Defense Minister Yoav Galant met with U.S. President Joe Biden's envoy to the Middle East, Brett McGurk, and told him that Israel would expand "the mandate given to our hostage negotiators. At the same time, the IDF is preparing the continuation of intense ground operations." In their meeting, the two discussed the advanced efforts to obtain another outline that would allow the return of hostages and Gallant expressed Israel's willingness to prevent harm to civilians, and to allow the introduction of humanitarian aid to prevent hunger and disease. In addition, the Defense Minister reviewed with McGurk the Iranian aggression through its militias in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. (Yoav Zitun)