WASHINGTON, March  26, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin 
told his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant Tuesday that civilian casualties in 
Gaza are "too high," and said the two would talk about alternatives to a major 
Israeli operation in the territory's south.
       A separate Israeli delegation was supposed to visit Washington to discuss 
US concerns over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to launch an assault 
on the southern city of Rafah, where much of Gaza's population has sought 
refuge.
       But Israel scrapped that visit after the United States abstained in a 
Monday vote on a UN Security Council resolution that called for a Gaza 
ceasefire, allowing it to pass.
       "In Gaza today, the number of civilian casualties is far too high, and the 
amount of humanitarian aid is far too low," Austin said at the beginning of the 
meeting, adding that it would include discussion of alternatives for targeting 
Hamas in Rafah.
       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 toll 
in the Gaza Strip mounts and the humanitarian situation worsens.
BSS/AFP/MRU/2236hrs