US warns Israel that civilians in Gaza must be protected, shortage of water, food, medicine

(Patria) - US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday that Israel's failure to protect civilians in Gaza could cause a generational backlash and create more anti-Israeli insurgents in the future.

Austin told reporters in Rome that he emphasizes the need to respond to the humanitarian needs of civilians in every conversation he has with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant. Austin said that he emphasizes the need for Israel to be more precise during military operations against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in order to limit civilian casualties, and emphasizes the need to provide humanitarian aid to the civilian population, Reuters reported.

"If you don't, you will create a generation of Palestinians who will really resist cooperation with Israel in the future. So, you are actually increasing the number of insurgents... if you don't do that," Austin said.

"In my opinion, that is a strategic imperative."

Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages in Israeli cities on October 7, 2023. More than 42,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombing of Gaza, and another 10,000 unconfirmed dead are believed to be under the rubble. Israel has intensified its attack on the northern edge of Gaza since killing a Hamas leader last week. Health authorities reported on Wednesday that at least twenty people were killed in new Israeli attacks, mostly in the north.

In addition to massive destruction, residents of Gaza are facing a severe shortage of food, water, fuel, medicine, and adequate medical care. The United States is Israel's closest ally and has supported Israel's efforts to attack Hamas, which is supported by Iran. But in a confidential letter last week, Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded concrete measures from Israeli officials to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza or face potential restrictions on US military aid. Austin refused to discuss the letter publicly.

"The ability to militarily achieve your goals in terms of achieving objectives and protecting civilians in the combat zone... you can do both. They are not mutually exclusive," Austin said.

Israel says it has not imposed any restrictions on aid entering Gaza and blames the United Nations and other international groups for not distributing the aid arriving in the enclave. It also says Hamas is looting aid convoys, which the group denies.

Israel says it is making every effort to avoid civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of deliberately basing its fighters in residential areas and using civilians as human shields.

Austin says he is aware of Hamas's tactic of using civilians as human shields.

"Let's not be mistaken, this is a complicated, very, very difficult space to fight in," he said.

"And that's why... the Israelis have to do everything they can to be as careful as possible in protecting civilians in the combat space."