>>> U. S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN SAYS GAZA IS SUFFERING COMMUNITARIAN CATASTROPHE. THIS FOLLOWS A MEETING WITH HIS ISRAELI COUNTERPART AT THE PENTAGON EARLIER TODAY AND COMES AS THE U. S. DISCOURAGES ISRAEL FROM CONDUCTING A GROUND INVASION INTO THE SOUTHERN GAZA CITY OF RAFAH. CBS NEWS POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT CAITLYN HUEY-BURNS IS FOLLOWING THIS TODAY. IT IS SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU. WHERE DO THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES FOLLOWING TODAY'S MEETING ? >> Reporter: WELL, THE ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER ARRIVED HERE ON SUNDAY AND CONTINUED HIS MEETINGS WITH THE SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL. HE MET YESTERDAY WITH NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER JAKE SULLIVAN AND WAS SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN. TODAY HE MET WITH THE DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN. TODAY WE ACTUALLY HEARD FROM THEM AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR MEETING. AUSTIN DESCRIBED THE BOND BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE U. S. AS UNSHAKABLE BUT ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE GOALS THEY WANT TO HAVE IN THIS MEETING. TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT AUSTIN HAD TO SAY. >> AS I HAVE CONSISTENTLY SECULAR PROTECTING PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS FROM HARM IS BOTH OF MORAL IN SOCIETY -- AND STRATEGIC AND PARITY. A NUMBER OF CIVILIAN CASUALTIES AND THE AMOUNT OF HUMANITARIAN AID. >> Reporter: THIS AFTER MAJOR CONCERNS THE ADMINISTRATION HAS HAD WHEN IT COMES TO THIS EXPECTED AND PLANNED MILITARY OPERATION IN GAZA, THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE REGION WHERE NEARLY 1.5 MILLION PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN SHELTERING. THIS IS AN ARGUMENT ANTONY BLINKEN HAS BEEN MAKING AND MADE LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING THE RISK OF CIVILIAN CASUALTIES HERE, THE HUMANITARIAN AID, ANTONY BLINKEN TRIED TO MAKE THIS CASE TO NETANYAHU LAST WEEK. NETANYAHU SAID THEY WERE DETERMINED TO GO IT ALONE, EVEN IF THE U. S. WOULD NOT HELP. ANOTHER DISCUSSION LIKELY TO COME UP TODAY IS U. S. AID COMMITMENTS TO ISRAEL, ESPECIALLY IN THE FORM OF WEAPONRY. >> WITH THAT IN MIND, CAITYLN, WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE IS THE U. S. ACTUALLY PUTTING ON ISRAEL, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, TO STOP THE INVASION? YESTERDAY JOHN KIRBY SAID THE U. S. WAS NOT CHANGING ITS TUNE OR ITS SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL, DESPITE NOT VETOING THE U.N. RESOLUTION. COULD WE SEE LAST EIGHT GO TO ISRAEL IN THE FUTURE IF THE RAFAH RAID HAPPENS AND SHOULD IT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AT THIS POINT? >> Reporter: YEAH. THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. WE HAVE SEEN MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION REALLY URGING AGAINST THIS MILITARY OPERATION. WE HEARD FROM KAMALA HARRIS OVER THE WEEKEND WHO SAID THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AND SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES IN PLACE. SHE DID NOT ELABORATE ON THAT BUT SHE DID SAY NOTHING WAS OFF THE TABLE. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN CLEAR THAT MILITARY ASSISTANCE AND AID IN THE FORM OF WEAPONS WILL REMAIN, HOWEVER, THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY COULD CONDITION IT TO CERTAIN THINGS.
