The US does not have any evidence of Israel committing genocide in Gaza, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testified during a hearing Tuesday before the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
Austin denied accusations that he “green-lit genocide.”
“From the very beginning we are committed to help assist Israel in defending its territory and its people by providing security assistance,” Austin said. “And I would remind everybody that what happened on October 7 was absolutely horrible.”
Austin later agreed that Hamas committed war crimes on October 7.
“Hamas is responsible for the start of this war,” Austin said. “But having said that, there have been far too many civilian casualties. I think there is a way to be successful operationally and tactically and also protect civilians. The two are not mutually exclusive.”
Austin said hostage talks are important and ongoing, and leadership in Qatar is “intentionally focused on making sure the hostages are released as soon as possible.”
Austin's testimony was repeatedly interrupted by protesters
Austin’s testimony was interrupted by multiple pro-Palestinian protesters, who erupted into applause each time Capitol Hill police escorted a demonstrator out of the Senate chamber.
Austin faced scrutiny from both Republicans and Democrats on the committee for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the United States’ support for Israel.
Chairman of the committee Sen. Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island) asked Austin if he agreed that Hamas will not be defeated militarily as long as the Palestinian people cannot be separated from Hamas.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) pressed Austin on why Israel has a responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
Cotton said it’s not Israel’s or the US’s responsibility to provide aid. He described the plan for the US military humanitarian pier as “ill-considered” and said he doesn’t think it will end well. Cotton added that the US didn’t provide aid to Germany or Japan in the middle of World War II, and questioned if Austin would’ve provided aid to Germany during the war.
Austin said that if Israel wants to create lasting effects, then it must address the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people in a meaningful way.
Austin said he talks to his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant every week and encourages him to increase the volume of humanitarian assistance going into Gaza. We’ve seen them do that most recently, Austin said, but we need to sustain it.
Austin said the initial operation for the pier will be in place by the third week in April. “It’s something that we have the ability to do, and we should do,” Austin said.
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said the Israeli government needs more than encouragement. King said he was surprised to see the US approve the transfer of offensive munitions to Israel the same week as the deaths of the World Central Kitchen workers.
King added that while most feel Israel has a right and responsibility to defend itself, he’s bothered by the conduct in which they’re doing so as he believes it’s hurting Israel. “My concern is that, particularly when those bombs are coming from this country, we have a responsibility as well in terms of the way that war is being conducted because we are engaged in terms of the supply of the weapons,” King said.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) echoed King’s sentiment, saying the US has an important responsibility as it is giving the IDF the bombs they’re using to destroy homes, hospitals, and refugee camps.
Austin said there have been changes in Israel’s behavior following the deaths of the World Central Kitchen aid workers and that Biden’s conversation with Netanyahu has had an effect.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) – who last week cosigned a letter to Biden calling for the US to provide more medical aid to Gaza – said it’s important for Palestinians to believe they might have a future that looks different than 1948.In response to Kaine, Austin said violence would be accelerated and the conflict would be long-term if women and children in Gaza died en masse.