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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin connected Tuesday said location was nary grounds that Israeli forces were committing "genocide" successful nan Gaza Strip.
Austin was asked astir Israel's subject operations successful Gaza by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., during a proceeding connected nan Pentagon's 2025 fund request.
"Is Israel committing genocide successful Gaza?" Cotton asked, referring to protesters' claims that Israel is indiscriminately targeting civilians.
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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies earlier a Senate Appropriations Committee connected Capitol Hill successful Washington, Oct. 31, 2023. On Tuesday, Austin testified that location was nary grounds that Israel was committing genocide successful nan Gaza Strip. (AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta / File)
"We don't person immoderate grounds of genocide being created. We don't person immoderate grounds of that to my knowledge," Austin replied.
Austin, who has been accused of greenlighting Israeli genocide, said Israel has a correct to take sides itself.
Pro-Palestinian protesters person claimed Israel is committing genocide in Gaza amid its subject discourtesy against Hamas aft nan panic group attacked Israelis connected Oct. 7.
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Smoke rises during an Israeli onslaught successful nan vicinity of nan al-Shifa infirmary successful Gaza City connected March 28, 2024, amid nan ongoing conflict betwixt Israel and nan Palestinian Hamas group. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP)
Israeli officials person said nan other is happening, pinch Israel allowing humanitarian assistance to travel into nan war-torn strip.
"Why does Israel person a work to supply assistance successful Gaza? We didn't supply assistance to Japan and Germany during World War II," Cotton asked.
He noted that nan United States provided assistance to nan Axis nations aft nan war, not successful nan mediate of nan conflict.
"It's not Israel's work to supply aid. Certainly not our responsibility," he said.
Palestinians look astatine nan demolition aft an Israeli onslaught astatine a residential building successful Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, connected Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
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Austin said assistance was important to nan civilians connected nan ground.
"If they want to create a lasting effect successful position of stability, past I deliberation that thing needs to beryllium done to thief nan Palestinian people," Austin said.
