US has seen no evidence that Israel has committed genocide, Austin says

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday rebuffed arguments that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, saying he's seen no evidence to suggest it.

"We don't have any evidence of genocide being [committed]" by Israel in Gaza, Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee during a budget hearing, where his testimony was interrupted several times by protesters.

Austin’s comments come as pressure builds on the Biden administration and Democrats over U.S. support for the conflict.

They also come after a committee member, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), said last week that international officials could determine that the war in Gaza legally constitutes genocide.

Pressed by the panel’s top Republican, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Austin stopped short of labeling the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel by Hamas a genocide, though he called it a "horrific terrorist attack” and said it "certainly is a war crime.”

Austin made the case for a foreign aid package — stalled in the House — that would unlock billions in military aid for Israel, along with Ukraine and Pacific allies. At the same time, the Pentagon chief underscored efforts to free up humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

"I really do believe … that if they want to create a lasting effect in terms of stability, then I think that something needs to help the Palestinian people," Austin said in an exchange with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).

Austin also said a military operation to establish a pier in Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid by sea will be up and running by late April.

"It is something that we have the ability to do and we should do," Austin said of the pier operation.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) faulted the Israeli government for “collectively punishing” Gazans by throttling access to water and humanitarian aid. He pointed to recent comments from World Food Programme Director Cindy McCain that a famine is imminent.

When asked by Kaine about the issue, Austin said a lack of food and medicine “will accelerate violence, and it will have the effect of ensuring that there is a long term conflict because the Palestinian people will have been disadvantaged to such a great degree. This doesn’t have to happen.”

“We are doing everything we can to encourage the Israelis to open more land routes [for aid] and to separate the Palestinian people from Hamas,” Austin added. “Failure to do so will create more terrorists.”