The Unspoken Tragedy in Gaza: A Grim Tale of Women and Children
The recent conflict in the Gaza Strip has resulted in a horrifyingly high death toll, especially among women and children. According to Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, the number surpasses an astounding 25,000. This grave revelation has sparked a global debate on the ethical and legal implications of the military strategies employed by Israel.
Lloyd Austin’s Alarming Estimate
During a recent Congressional hearing, Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, was questioned by Congressman Ro Khanna about the number of Palestinian women and children who had lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Austin’s response was a staggering figure of over 25,000.
“It is over 25,000.” – Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense
Israel’s Controversial Tactics
The Israeli government has been subjected to increasing criticism due to the high number of civilian casualties resulting from attacks on residential areas. Despite this, the Israeli government continues to justify its aggressive military tactics. This has triggered international concern and a case of genocide against Israel is currently being heard by the International Court of Justice.
U.S. Munitions and Israel
Further, in the hearing, Khanna pressed Austin about the number of precision-guided munitions the United States had supplied to Israel. Austin was unable to provide a precise figure. Khanna suggested that the number was approximately 21,000. The U.S. Defense Secretary was additionally quizzed about the potential withdrawal of military aid to Israel if a planned ground invasion of Rafah was initiated.
The Rafah Question
Rafah is home to 1.5 million Palestinians. Austin stated that any invasion plan would need to be credible and ensure the safety of the populace. When asked whether he would halt military sales to Israel if it invaded Rafah without such a plan, Austin indicated that the final decision would rest with President Joe Biden.
An Unverified Estimate?
However, soon after the hearing, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh refuted Austin’s estimate, stating that it was based on data from the Gaza Ministry of Health and not U.S. intelligence.
“We cannot independently verify these Gaza casualty figures.” – Sabrina Singh, Pentagon spokeswoman
The Pentagon clarified that Austin’s statement was referring to the total number of Palestinians killed. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, the death toll had exceeded 30,000, including 12,300 children and 8,400 women.
A Brutal Attack on Aid Seekers
The hearing occurred in the wake of reports that Israeli forces had killed over 100 people who were collecting food aid in Gaza. This attack was widely condemned by human rights groups and world leaders. Israel initially attributed the deaths to crowding, stampeding, and “Gaza truck drivers”, but later changed its account.
The Need for Investigation
The White House stated that the mass shooting “needs to be thoroughly investigated”. The question remains: How many more lives need to be lost before a resolution is found?
