Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin rebuffed assertions of Israeli genocide in Gaza during a hearing in the US Senate. Responding to concerns raised by Republican Senator Tom Cotton regarding protests calling for an end to US funding of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Austin stated there is no evidence supporting the claim of genocide.
Despite widespread condemnation from the international community, with exceptions including the US and a select few allies, Austin maintained that there is insufficient evidence to label Israel's actions as genocidal. This stands in contrast to numerous governments and international organizations, such as the United Nations, which have criticized Israel's conduct in Gaza.
Recent months have seen mounting accusations against the Israeli regime, with South Africa even lodging a formal complaint in the International Court of Justice. However, Austin reaffirmed the US commitment to defend Israel against Palestinian resistance groups, even as pressure builds for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
