Pentagon voices concern over Gaza casualties

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was informed by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday that civilian deaths in Gaza are "too high," and the two would discuss alternatives to a significant Israeli operation in the southern half of the enclave.

A different Israeli team was scheduled to travel to Washington to address US concerns on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's intentions to attack Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where a large portion of the population has fled.

However, Israel postponed that trip when the US abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution that demanded a ceasefire in Gaza on Monday, enabling the resolution to pass.

"In Gaza today, the number of civilian casualties is far too high, and the amount of humanitarian aid is far too low," Mr Austin said at the beginning of the meeting, adding that it would include discussion of alternatives for targeting Hamas in Rafah.

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Gallant meanwhile said they would talk about "developments in Gaza and the means to achieve our goals: the destruction of Hamas organization and bringing back the Israeli hostages."

Roughly 130 people are still believed to be held in Gaza after they were seized in the shock Hamas attack on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli figures.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 32,414 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

The United States has backed Israel with both military and diplomatic support, but has voiced frustration with Netanyahu as the civilian death count in the Gaza Strip mounts and the humanitarian situation worsens.

(With agency inputs)