Pentagon Chief blasts Israeli counterpart in phone call: Lloyd Austin 'outraged' by Tel Aviv's 'failures' and warns the Word Central Kitchen tragedy risks plunging Gaza into famine

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed during a call with his Israeli counterpart on Wednesday there is 'outrage' in U.S. government over a recent IDF strike that killed seven aid workers.

The Pentagon said Austin's call with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant 'reinforced the expressed concern over a potential Israeli military operation in Rafah.'

The call on Wednesday was the first senior western official to connect with Israeli officials after the World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers were killed in a 'triple tap' drone strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip on Monday.

President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and demanded an 'immediate ceasefire' in his largest-ever condemnation of the Jewish State in its conflict with Hamas.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (left) spoke over the phone on Wednesday with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant (right) after an IDF strike killed seven humanitarian aid workers in Gaza

He warned during the 30-minute call that Israel could lose military support from the U.S. if it doesn't take moves to protect Palestinians and aid workers.

Earlier on Thursday, Biden ally Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said he would personally support putting conditions on U.S. aid to Israel if it continued on its current attack plan in Rafah.

Austin said in his call with Israel the day prior to Biden's call that the 'tragedy' in Gaza will not make it more difficult to get food and humanitarian assistance to struggling Palestinians.

He warned there is a 'risk of famine' in communities in the northern part of the strip.

The Defense Secretary focused on the need for Israel to ensure evacuation of Palestinian civilians and ability for groups to provide humanitarian aid in the region following the death of WCK workers, the DOD noted in a readout of the call.

Biden said he as 'outraged and heartbroken' in a statement earlier this week after it was revealed the aid workers were killed

Seven World Central Kitchen workers were killed in an Israel Defense Forces strike in Gaza on Monday – one of which was a dual American-Canadian citizen

President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the strike that killed seven aid workers for the World Central Kitchen. Pictured: Biden and Netanyahu in Israel in October

One of the victims was a dual US-Canadian citizen – the other deceased were three from the United Kingdom, one from Poland, one from Australia and one was Palestinian.

Israel insists the attack did not 'intentionally' target aid workers and apologized for the 'grave mistake.'

Netanyahu, often called Bibi, said Israel cannot fully eliminate the Hamas terrorist group unless it goes after four battalions believed to be in Rafah – a southern city in the Gaza Strip bordering Israel.

United Nations officials have insisted Israel not attack Rafah, claiming it would be a 'disaster.'