US defense chief says Israel has changed behavior since World Central Kitchen strike

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tells a Senate hearing that Israel has changed how it is operating in response to US President Joe Biden’s conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of the killing of World Central Kitchen aid workers last week.

“It clearly had an effect, we have seen changes in behavior, and we have seen more humanitarian assistance being pushed into Gaza, there needs to be more still,” he says. “But I think the president’s conversation did have a positive effect.”

He declines to detail the contents of the talks between Biden and Netanyahu.

He also says that Israel is taking steps to investigate the bombing and hold those responsible accountable, following a conversation he had with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The World Central Kitchen strike led to a shift in tone from US President Joe Biden on how Israel must protect civilian life in Gaza and drove dozens of House Democrats, including former house speaker Nancy Pelosi, to call on Biden to halt weapons transfers to Israel.

Maine Independent Angus King tells Austin that the US should have paused weapons transfers.

Austin also warns that mass famine in Gaza would likely accelerate violence and ensure a long-term conflict.

“It will accelerate violence, and it will have the effect of ensuring that there’s a long-term conflict,” Austin says. “It doesn’t have to happen… We should continue to do everything we can, and we are doing this, to encourage the Israelis to provide humanitarian assistance.”

Reuters contributed to this post.