Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant will hold a meeting in the US next week, CNN reported, citing a US defense official, Paralel.Az reports.

According to the source, the sides will discuss a range of issues, including efforts to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas, the need for increased humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and plans to secure the more than one million people sheltering in Rafah.

Earlier, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said that talks between the US and Israel on the Rafah operation could take place in Washington early next week.