"U.S. Defense Secretary Austin Heads to Israel Amidst Calls for Ceasefire and Protests"

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to visit Israel this week to urge Israeli officials to shift their focus away from the ongoing assault in Gaza and transition to targeted campaigns against Hamas leaders. This comes as multiple countries, including France, the U.K., and Germany, call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Israel's global position has weakened due to the high death toll in Gaza and the accidental killing of three Israeli hostages by Israeli Defense Forces. International pressure for a sustainable ceasefire is mounting.