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There is no evidence Israel is committing genocide in Gaza but far too many civilians have been killed there, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday.
The Pentagon chief also suggested the US military adheres to stiffer standards of avoiding civilian casualties than Israel does.
“We don’t have any evidence of genocide being [committed],” Mr Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
He was earlier interrupted by protesters who yelled at him to “stop the genocide” and to end the provision of weapons to Israel.
Elizabeth Warren, a progressive Democratic senator, asked Mr Austin whether he thought an expected Israeli attack on Rafah, the southern Gaza city where more than one million people have sought refuge, would be a “disaster”.
“Far too many civilians have been killed as a result of combat operations [in other parts of Gaza] and [Israel] needs to get civilians out of that battle space around Rafah,” Mr Austin said.
Gaza health authorities say more than 33,200 people have been killed in the enclave and nearly 76,000 injured since Israel declared war on Hamas following its October 7 attack that killed nearly 1,200 people, according to Israeli counts.
Ms Warren referenced recent reporting by Israel-based +972 Magazine and other outlets alleging that Israeli troops wait until suspected militants are at home with their families before they are bombed.
The +972 report also said the Israeli military uses artificial intelligence to identify targets for air strikes in Gaza, which has resulted in the mass killing of civilians.
“Would the United States systematically choose to execute on military strikes that are more likely to kill civilians, including children?” Ms Warren asked.
Mr Austin responded: “Absolutely not. Just the opposite. We routinely go out of our way to make sure that we do everything we can to minimise civilian casualties.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that a date had been set for a Rafah invasion, but he did not say when it would be.
The US has pushed Israel to avoid launching a Rafah offensive until a clear plan to protect civilians has been outlined.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said talks on Rafah would take place next week.
“I don't anticipate any actions being taken before those talks. And for that matter, I don't see anything imminent, but there is a lot of work to be done,” Mr Blinken told reporters.
Six months into Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza, the devastated Palestinian enclave faces famine and widespread disease, with most of its inhabitants now homeless.
A mass famine in Gaza would likely accelerate violence and ensure a long-term conflict, Mr Austin said.
“It doesn't have to happen … we should continue to do everything we can, and we are doing this, to encourage the Israelis to provide humanitarian assistance,” he added.
Willy Lowry contributed to this report
Israel targets Rafah with air strikes – in pictures
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Brief scoreline:
Wolves 3
Neves 28', Doherty 37', Jota 45' 2
Arsenal 1
Papastathopoulos 80'
How Sputnik V works
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
