‘Terrorists Like Hamas Deliberately Target Civilians, But Democracies Don’t,’ US Defense Secretary Says
Lloyd Austin just one of Biden's Cabinet members in Israel since Hamas attacks
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin joined colleague Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Israel this week as another leading American voice declaring the utmost US support for the embattled Israel following last weekend's devastating terrorist attacks.
But like his boss, President Biden, Austin also implicitly counseled Israelis not to target Palestinian civilians in their fierce response to the attacks by Hamas which already have left thousands dead.
Israel has begun a massive counterattack against Hamas in Gaza, telling Palestinian civilians to move out of the north of the besieged Gaza Strip before an expected ground offensive. The area of evacuation is home to more than 1 million Palestinians.
President Biden and top officials in his administration have expressed steadfast support for Israel since the attacks began last Saturday.
“The world has just witnessed a great evil; the deadliest attack on civilians in the history of the state of Israel and the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the end of the Holocaust,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said while in Tel Aviv. “So make no mistake, the United States will make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself, and Israel has a right to protect its people.
“You know, in their many phone calls this week, President Biden has told Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States would also respond swiftly and decisively to such a massive terrorist assault, and the president also underscored that democracies like ours are stronger and more secure when we uphold the laws of war,” he said. “Terrorists like Hamas deliberately targets civilians, but democracies don’t. This is a time for resolve and not revenge, for purpose and not panic, and for security and not surrender.”
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