Pentagon Chief ‘Absolutely’ Refutes Protestors’ Claims U.S. ‘Greenlit Genocide’ In Gaza: No ‘Evidence of That’ Happening

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testified before the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, declaring that there was no evidence of “genocide” being committed by Israel in Gaza.

Austin testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee as part of a budget hearing, in which the Pentagon chief urged Congress to bolster U.S. defense spending and immediately send more military aid to Israel and Ukraine.

The hearing was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters who later took over the Senate cafeteria. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) allowed Austin time to respond to the protestors and their claims that he was engaged in helping “genocide.”

“Secretary Austin, thank you for acknowledging, in response to Senator Wicker that Hamas committed war crimes on October 7th and has been committing them every day since about using human shields. I want to address what the protesters raised earlier. Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza?” Cotton asked.

“Senator Cotton, we don’t have any evidence of genocide being created,” Austin replied.

“So that’s a that’s a no. Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza?” Cotton pressed.

“We don’t have evidence of that,” Austin replied.

“Thank you. Better than Director Barnes and Director Haynes did last month at the Intelligence Committee when they dodged that question. You stand accused by those protesters of greenlighting genocide. Would you like to respond to that accusation?” Cotton followed up.

“What I would say, Senator Cotton from the very beginning is that we are committed to help assist Israel in defending its territory and its people by providing security assistance. And I would remind everybody that, you know, what happened on October 7th was absolutely horrible. And, you know. Numbers of Israeli citizens killed and then, a couple of hundred, Israeli citizens, taken hostage,” Austin replied as Cotton added, “American citizens, as well.”

“As American citizens as well,” agreed Austin.

“So, so you deny the accusation that you greenlit genocide?” Cotton followed up.

“I absolutely do,” Austin replied.

“For the record, I don’t think Israel is committing genocide. I don’t believe you greenlit genocide, either,” Cotton added.

Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.