US Defense Secretary Austin meets with Netanyahu and War Cabinet members, promises continued aid

As part of his second visit to Israel since the war between Israel and the Hamas terror organization began, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the members of the War Cabinet on Monday.

Both leaders gave short statements before the start of the meeting at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Austin thanked Netanyahu for hosting him on his fourth visit as U.S. secretary of defense, and underscored the Biden administration’s position that Washington's commitment to Israel “is unshakeable.”

“I know that all Israelis were touched by the vast evil committed by Hamas. So I’m here to mourn with you for the innocent souls taken from you on October 7th and I’m also here to stand alongside the families of those still missing in Gaza, including US citizens,” Austin said.

He also mentioned the new multinational maritime task force created to “uphold the bedrock principle of freedom of navigation” under American leadership.

“Iran’s support for Houthi attacks on commercial vessels must stop,” he stressed.

The Yemeni Houthi rebels have declared their support for Hamas and in recent weeks targeted ships navigating in the Red Sea.

Austin later said that he would convene a virtual meeting of ministers in the region to address the Houthi threat.

The defense secretary said that the U.S. would continue to provide Israel with all the help it needed, including military equipment and assistance to find and free the hostages, but added that he also intended to “support Israel on a path to lasting security,” through increasing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu, in his address, stated: “We're fighting a war of civilization against barbarism.”.

He added that as the leaders of the forces of civilization in the world, this is the America's war as well.

“This is a battle against the Iranian axis of terror, which is now threatening to close the maritime strait of Bab el-Mandeb,” the prime minister said.

“This threatens the freedom of navigation of the entire world. I appreciate the fact that you’re taking action to open that strait. It’s not only our interest, it is the interest I think of the entire civilized community,” he added.

He thanked Austin for his Washington's “consistent” support throughout the war and showed Austin a wall with images of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.

“The ones we returned, and everyone we will return,” he said.

“We are committed to achieving a complete victory over Hamas, and that’s what we will do,” he said.

Austin also met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the two defense leaders answered questions during a press briefing.

When asked if the U.S. had presented Israel with a timetable for the continuation of the fighting, Austin responded that he did not come to Israel to “set a schedule.”

Gallant stressed that Israel and the U.S. are in “transparent and frank discussions” on the progress of the war and that they will continue to “share everything” during the talks.