Lloyd Austin: The Israeli army cannot win the battle against Hamas and we expect a strategic defeat for it in the Gaza Strip

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said, during a speech he delivered at the Reagan National Defense Forum held these days in California, that Israel may face a strategic defeat in the Gaza Strip.

Austin added, “In this type of fighting, the civilian population is the center of gravity… If you push them into the enemy’s arms, you will exchange tactical victory for strategic defeat”.

According to him, the Israeli army can win the battle against Hamas only if the Israeli forces carry out the main task of preventing the killing of civilians and working to protect them in the Gaza Strip.

Austin said in statements during the forum that he personally urges Israeli leaders to avoid civilian deaths and injuries, to stop irresponsible rhetoric, and to prevent settler violence in the West Bank.

He added that he also urges Israel to significantly expand the scope of humanitarian aid entering Gaza, adding that he expects more aid to be delivered in the coming days.

“In this type of combat, the civilian population is the center of gravity, and if you push them into the arms of the enemy, the result will be a strategic defeat instead of a tactical victory,” he said.

He added, “Therefore, I have been making clear to Israel’s leaders that protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is a moral responsibility and a strategic necessity”.

Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas following its October 7 attack on southern Israel, an attack that Israel says led to the deaths of 1,200 and the taking of 240 hostages.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza says that more than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, and that at least 193 Palestinians have been killed since just, Friday, after the collapse of the truce between Israel and Hamas.

Austin’s statements come in light of the Israeli warplanes and artillery bombing of the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

The United States is rushing to send military aid to Israel, including air defenses and other munitions.

Austin pledged that the United States would stand with Israel, noting Israel’s commitment to respond after the Hamas attack on October 7, and describing Hamas as a “brutal enemy”.

“The United States will remain Israel’s closest friend in the world,” Austin told an audience of prominent US lawmakers, national security officials and defense executives.

“Our support for Israel’s security is non-negotiable”.

Austin also renewed calls for the United States to establish two states to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He continued, “Without prospects of hope, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will continue to be a driver of instability, insecurity, and human suffering”.

As the war between Israel and Hamas escalates tensions in the region, the Pentagon faces wave after wave of attacks on American forces by Iranian-backed groups that blame the United States for Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Austin accused Iran of inflaming tensions and pointed to recent US air strikes in response to Iran.

“We’ll not tolerate attacks on US military personnel… Therefore, these attacks must stop,” Austin said.