By EFE
01 Sep 2024, 23:55 PM EDT
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday to pledge justice and express grief over the killing of six hostages by Hamas in Gaza, including young American Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
“Hamas leaders must be held accountable for their crimes,” Austin told Gollant, according to a summary of the call provided by Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.
During the call, the US secretary of state extended his condolences to the families of the slain hostages and expressed his outrage “at their illegal and immoral execution at the hands of Hamas,” the statement added.
He also expressed shock at the death of three Israeli police officers “in an apparent terrorist attack in the West Bank,” the statement said.
Both leaders took the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to reaching a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible to ensure the release of all hostages.
The White House confirmed early Sunday that Israeli forces found the lifeless bodies of six hostages in a tunnel in Gaza, including that of 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
The young man, originally from California, was one of those kidnapped last October in a surprise attack during a peace music festival near the border with the Gaza Strip and who lost an arm during the grenade attack.
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