US and Israeli defence chiefs meet to discuss plans for Gaza

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant meeting with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

US defence leaders met with Israel’s minister of defence as the United States warned against a ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, but rising tensions between the two allies put any progress in question.

In remarks at the start of the Pentagon meeting, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said they would discuss alternative ways to target Hamas in Rafah, and he described civilian casualties in Gaza as “far too high” and aid deliveries as “far too low”.