The US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, said that the US does not have enough evidence that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza during its struggle with the Palestinian group Hamas, quoted by Reuters and BTA.
According to the US minister, a deadly mass starvation in Gaza is likely to increase violence and trigger a protracted conflict.
"This will increase the violence and have the effect of reaching a long-term conflict," he said. "This shouldn't happen. We must continue to do everything we can, as we are doing now, to encourage Israel to provide humanitarian aid," Austin added.
1,200 people were killed in the "Hamas" attack on October 7, according to Israeli data. The subsequent military offensive by Israel against the "Hamas" the Gaza Strip has forced most of the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip from their homes. Israel was accused of genocide. Israel has rejected these claims.
The US is Israel's biggest military backer, but it is pressing the country to do more to help civilians in Gaza. At least 33,360 Palestinians have been killed and 75,993 wounded in Israel's offensive in Gaza, the Strip's health ministry said.