Defense Secretary Says Israel Risks āStrategic Defeatā If Civilian Lives Not Protected
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Saturday Israel risked a āstrategic defeatā if it fails to protect civilian lives in Gaza during its war with Hamas, adding he had personally appealed to Israeli leaders to do so.
āIn this kind of a fight, the center of gravity is the civilian population,ā Austin said during the annual Reagan National Defense Forum in California. āAnd if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat.ā
āSo I have repeatedly made clear to Israelās leaders that protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral responsibility and a strategic imperative.ā
Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza on Friday after a brief cease-fire ended. The country has since widened its offensive to every part of the region, ordering those in southern Gaza to evacuate and vowing the incursion would be āno less strengthā than that in the north.
At least 15,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamasā Oct. 7 attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead, according to the Gaza health ministry, including around 200 since the Friday pause dissolved.
DEFENSE SEC: ISRAEL RISKS 'STRATEGIC DEFEAT' IF CIVILIANS KEEP DYING
I totally agree with Secretary of Defense Austin! What do you think?