Israel’s defense minister heading to Washington

Next week in Washington, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is scheduled to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, as confirmed by a U.S. defense official on Tuesday. The discussions between Austin and Gallant are expected to focus on efforts to free hostages held by Hamas, provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and ensure the safety of the inhabitants of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza that has become a refuge for over a million displaced individuals amid plans by Israel to conduct a ground operation.