GAZA: Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant to reiterate US support for Israel’s right to defend itself and the importance of ensuring uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

Austin reaffirmed the US commitment to the pursuit of diplomacy to resolve tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border and the shared goal of avoiding regional escalation.

The director of the CIA will meet in Europe with his Israeli and Egyptian counterparts plus the Qatari prime minister, aiming to negotiate a truce and hostage release in the Israeli-Hamas war, US media reported.

William Burns will make the trip in the next few days, according to The Washington Post and Axios, which did not give a location for the talks.

According to AFP, both the US intelligence agency and the White House declined to confirm the travel.

However, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby recalled that Burns had already been involved in negotiations over a prior hostage agreement at the end of November and indicated that he was participating in efforts for another one.