Hamas: US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin Arrives Israel

United States Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin, has arrived Tel Aviv in Israel on Friday to meet with Israeli leaders and underscore the United States’ unwavering commitment to support the country following the recent deadly attacks by Hamas militant group.

Austin met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and members of the Israeli War Cabinet to discuss Israel’s operational planning and objectives and security assistance needs in response to the series of attacks launched early Saturday.

Making the point that Hamas is an evil group which Israel and the IDF should never be compared to when responding in self-defense, he said, “I know ISIS very well, and it’s worse than what I’ve seen with ISIS.”

Speaking further, Austin said that Hamas has “nothing to offer but zealotry, bigotry, and death,” noting this past Saturday was “the bloodiest since the Holocaust” for Jews worldwide.”

“I came here to make something clear: American support for Israel is ironclad,” he stated.