US, Israeli defense chiefs discuss prisoner exchange talks

WASHINGTON (AA) – US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant spoke by phone Sunday about talks between Israel and Hamas on a prisoner deal that would lead to a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Austin and Gallant exchanged views on humanitarian assistance efforts and the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.

“The Secretary reaffirmed his commitment to the unconditional return of all hostages and stressed the need for any potential Israeli military operation in Rafah to include a credible plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians and maintain the flow of humanitarian aid,” Ryder said.

Despite growing international opposition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to invade Rafah, home to more than 1.4 million displaced Palestinians.

Rafah is the last remaining area in the Gaza Strip where Israel has not yet formally announced the entry of its troops.

Early Sunday, Netanyahu rejected calls to end the Gaza offensive in return for a prisoner swap deal with Hamas, saying that ending the war now would keep the Palestinian group in power.

Israel has killed killed 34,700 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, since October 7 when 1,139 Israelis died in a Hamas-led attack.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January said it is “plausible” that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians there.