Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday reiterated the United States’ support for Israel in its war against Hamas and insisted Washington is not pushing for Israel to scale down its offensive in the Gaza Strip.


What You Need To Know

  • Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday reiterated the United States’ support for Israel in its war against Hamas and insisted Washington is not pushing for Israel to scale down its offensive in the Gaza Strip

  • Austin, along with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown Jr. arrived in Israel on Monday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the War Cabinet

  • In a joint news conference with Gallant in Tel Aviv, Austin said the U.S. “will continue to stand up for Israel's bedrock right to defend itself” but also “continue to urge the protection of civilians during conflict and to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza"

  • Asked Monday about a timeline for Israel entering the next phase, Austin said, “This is Israel's operation, and I'm not here to dictate timelines or terms.”

Austin, along with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown Jr., arrived in Israel on Monday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the country's War Cabinet. 

The visit comes as the U.S. is becoming more vocal about the number of civilian deaths in Gaza and as international pressure grows for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

In a joint news conference with Gallant in Tel Aviv, Austin said the U.S. “will continue to stand up for Israel's bedrock right to defend itself” but also “continue to urge the protection of civilians during conflict and to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

Limiting civilian casualties is “crucial” in Israel and the U.S. being able to work with allies after the war subsides, Austin said. 

Israel has maintained that it strives to prevent civilian casualties but has repeatedly blamed Hamas terrorists for hiding among civilians.

“Secretary Austin, we both know the complexities of war,” Gallant said. “We both fought brutal terrorist organization. We know that it takes time.  Unlike our enemies, we are defending our values, and we operate according to international law. The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is operating to minimize the harm to civilian population.”

The New York Times reported last week that Biden administration officials want Israel to end its large-sale ground and air operations in Gaza within weeks and transition to a more targeted phase in the war.

But asked Monday about a timeline for Israel entering the next phase, Austin said, “This is Israel's operation, and I'm not here to dictate timelines or terms.”

Gallant said the transition into the next phase will depend upon when strategic goals are achieved, noting circumstances are often changing on the battlefield.

“All in all, there is no clock that is running that we have to obey a certain day,” he said. “But we need to get to different performances on the ground before we move to the next phase.”

Israel’s top two goals are dismantling Hamas and bringing nearly 130 Israeli hostages in Gaza back home, Gallant said.

Austin said once again the U.S. believes Hamas should no longer control Gaza after the fighting and wants Israel and a Palestinian state under new leadership to peacefully coexist.

“It would compound this tragedy if all that was waiting for the Israeli people and your Palestinian neighbors at the end of this awful war was more insecurity, fury and despair,” the Pentagon chief said. “As I've said, Israelis and Palestinians have both paid to bitter a price to just go back to Oct. 6.”

Ryan Chatelain - Digital Media Producer

Ryan Chatelain is a national news digital content producer for Spectrum News and is based in New York City. He has previously covered both news and sports for WFAN Sports Radio, CBS New York, Newsday, amNewYork and The Courier in his home state of Louisiana.