Israel risks ‘strategic defeat’ if civilians aren’t protected, Pentagon chief says

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Israel risks a “strategic defeat” if it does not work to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza amid its war on militant group Hamas in the region.

“The center of gravity is the civilian population and if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat,” Austin said in a speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, Calif., on Saturday.

The secretary added that he has personally pushed Israeli leaders to avoid civilian casualties, prevent violence to settlers in the West Bank.

“We will continue to press Israel to protect civilians and to ensure the robust flow of humanitarian aid,” he added.

His comments come as U.S. leaders become more vocal in warnings to Israel about the next phase of military operations in Gaza, after a temporary truce expired Friday. The Biden administration has issued caution that a campaign in southern Gaza must be carried out more precisely than Israel did in the first leg of the war.

The Pentagon chief emphasized that Israel has the duty to respond

Austin emphasized that Israel has the duty to respond to terrorist attacks, like the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas that left at least 1,200 Israelis dead. But, he argued, it is crucial for allies to work together to prevent civilian casualties — especially when the conflict is over.

“It would compound this tragedy if all that awaited Israelis and Palestinians at the end of this awful war was more insecurity, more rage and more despair,” Austin said at the annual event. “Israelis and Palestinians have both paid too bitter a price to just go back to October 6.”

The U.S. Air Force delivered more than 54,000 pounds of medical supplies, warm clothing and food to people in Gaza earlier this week. More flights are expected in the coming days, the secretary confirmed.

Standing with previous sentiments, Austin said that the U.S. will remain Israel’s “closest friend in the world” and American support is non-negotiable. The Pentagon chief, who flew to Israel days after the conflict began, said he did so to make sure America’s commitment to Israel was “crystal clear.”

He denounced Hamas and said the U.S. will continue working to release the remaining 140 hostages taken during the initial attack. Officials are also working to stabilize the region amid fears of rising tensions with other countries in the Middle East, the secretary added.

Austin further argued that a two-state solution, though difficult, is the “only viable” way out of the conflict, so civilians can “find a way to share the land that they both call home.”