6/25/2024–|Last updated: 6/25/202409:30 PM (Mecca time)
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant appealed to Washington to provide Tel Aviv with the weapons required to “confront threats,” while his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, warned of the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah turning into a regional war.
Gallant, who is currently visiting the United States, said: “We will not forget Washington’s stance with us since the first day of the October 7 attack.”
He added that Israel is currently at a crossroads and that he is visiting Washington to discuss common goals with it.
Gallant stressed that Israel is moving forward with what he called establishing security and changing the reality on the ground, saying: “We are running out of time.”
He added: “It is time for Washington to fulfill its obligations to provide us with the weapons required to confront threats.”
Gallant recently began a visit to the United States with the aim of reaching an understanding regarding an arms shipment whose delivery to Israel was frozen by the administration of President Joe Biden.
Today, Tuesday, activists supporting Palestine demonstrated in front of Gallant’s residence in Washington, chanting, “You cannot hide, you are committing genocide.”
It is noteworthy that the International Criminal Prosecutor had previously requested the issuance of an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Galant, on charges of committing war crimes and genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Devastating
For his part, Austin said that the United States is urgently seeking to reach a diplomatic agreement that allows Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return to their homes on both sides of the border.
Austin warned that the outbreak of war between Hezbollah and Israel would be devastating and could easily turn into a regional war.
He considered that “diplomacy is the best way to prevent further escalation. Therefore, we are urgently seeking to reach a diplomatic agreement that will restore permanent calm to the northern border of Israel and enable civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border.”
Regarding the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, Austin said, “Hamas’ position on the ceasefire proposal prolongs the suffering.”
In a related context, he said that Washington is concerned about the position of Israeli extremists in the occupied West Bank.
