In the face of reports that the Biden administration is pressuring Israel to hurry up with its war against the terrorist group Hamas, allegedly telling the Jewish state that time was running out for its large-scale ground and air campaign operations in Gaza and a smaller force should be employed, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin joined Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant at a press conference on Monday in Tel Aviv and stated he was not there to “dictate timelines or terms” regarding Israel’s war against Hamas.
“I know that Israel has been profoundly changed from where you were on October 6,” Austin acknowledged. “So I’m here with a clear message: America’s support for Israel’s security is unshakable and Israel is not alone. At a time of mourning, a real friend shows up.”
“On October 7, Hamas committed one of the worst atrocities in the history of modern terrorism,” Austin stated. “Innocent young people at a concert were massacred. Parents were shot in front of their children. Women were sexually assaulted. Toddlers and Holocaust survivors were taken hostage.”
Austin then gave a clear-eyed picture of Hamas: “And for Hamas, that was just the beginning. Hamas has clearly and loudly spelled out its vision of the future, and it is to repeat October 7 over and over and over again. No country should tolerate such a danger, and Israel has every right to defend itself against a fanatical terrorist group whose stated purpose is to murder Jews and eradicate the Jewish state.”
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Asked if he had set any sort of either timetable or deadline to the current phase of the Israel ground war in Gaza, Austin replied, “Regarding the timeline, this is Israel’s operation and I’m not here to dictate timelines or terms,” adding, “Our support to Israel’s right to defend itself is ironclad, as you’ve heard me say a number of times, and that’s not going to change. It’s critical, as I said earlier, that Hamas not be able to threaten Israel from Gaza or even threaten Gaza anymore.”