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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Israel amid mounting international concern over the severe humanitarian impact of Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. During his visit, Austin urged a shift away from high-intensity warfare amidst reports of significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, remained steadfast in his commitment to defeating Hamas following their deadly raid into Israel on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 240 hostages.

This comes as Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report condemning the Israeli government for allegedly using starvation as a weapon in Gaza. The organization accused Israeli forces of intentionally blocking essential supplies, stating, “The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in the occupied Gaza Strip,” and called for global leaders to denounce these actions. Israel refuted the allegations, labeling HRW as “antisemitic and anti-Israeli” and dismissing their criticism due to their silence on Hamas’ actions.

Despite Israel’s claims of not targeting civilians and efforts to warn residents of impending strikes, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated. The Gaza Health Ministry reports approximately 19,000 Palestinian deaths, primarily civilians, with widespread displacement and a breakdown of essential services. Israeli government spokesperson Tal Heinrich insisted that Israel placed no restrictions on humanitarian aid, citing the entry of 201 trucks of aid into Gaza on a single day.