Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
There is no evidence Israel is committing genocide in Gaza but far too many civilians have been killed there, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday.
The Pentagon chief also suggested the US military adheres to stiffer standards of avoiding civilian casualties than Israel does.
“We don’t have any evidence of genocide being [committed],” Mr Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
He was earlier interrupted by protesters who yelled at him to “stop the genocide” and to end the provision of weapons to Israel.
Elizabeth Warren, a progressive Democratic senator, asked Mr Austin whether he thought an expected Israeli attack on Rafah, the southern Gaza city where more than one million people have sought refuge, would be a “disaster”.
“Far too many civilians have been killed as a result of combat operations [in other parts of Gaza] and [Israel] needs to get civilians out of that battle space around Rafah,” Mr Austin said.
Gaza health authorities say more than 33,200 people have been killed in the enclave and nearly 76,000 injured since Israel declared war on Hamas following its October 7 attack that killed nearly 1,200 people, according to Israeli counts.
Ms Warren referenced recent reporting by Israel-based +972 Magazine and other outlets alleging that Israeli troops wait until suspected militants are at home with their families before they are bombed.
The +972 report also said the Israeli military uses artificial intelligence to identify targets for air strikes in Gaza, which has resulted in the mass killing of civilians.
“Would the United States systematically choose to execute on military strikes that are more likely to kill civilians, including children?” Ms Warren asked.
Mr Austin responded: “Absolutely not. Just the opposite. We routinely go out of our way to make sure that we do everything we can to minimise civilian casualties.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that a date had been set for a Rafah invasion, but he did not say when it would be.
The US has pushed Israel to avoid launching a Rafah offensive until a clear plan to protect civilians has been outlined.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said talks on Rafah would take place next week.
“I don't anticipate any actions being taken before those talks. And for that matter, I don't see anything imminent, but there is a lot of work to be done,” Mr Blinken told reporters.
Six months into Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza, the devastated Palestinian enclave faces famine and widespread disease, with most of its inhabitants now homeless.
A mass famine in Gaza would likely accelerate violence and ensure a long-term conflict, Mr Austin said.
“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,” he added.
Willy Lowry contributed to this report
Israel targets Rafah with air strikes – in pictures
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
LAST 16
SEEDS
Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona, Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Valencia, Juventus
PLUS
Real Madrid, Tottenham, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon, Chelsea
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
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EGYPT SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ahmed El Shennawy, Mohamed El Shennawy, Mohamed Abou-Gabal, Mahmoud Abdel Rehem "Genesh"
Defenders: Ahmed Elmohamady, Ahmed Hegazi, Omar Gaber, Ali Gazal, Ayman Ahsraf, Mahmoud Hamdy, Baher Elmohamady, Ahmed Ayman Mansour, Mahmoud Alaa, Ahmed Abou-Elfotouh
Midfielders: Walid Soliman, Abdallah El Said, Mohamed Elneny, Tarek Hamed, Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan, Amr Warda, Nabil Emad
Forwards: Ahmed Ali, Mohamed Salah, Marwan Mohsen, Ahmed "Kouka" Hassan.
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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
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Match info
Bournemouth 0
Liverpool 4 (Salah 25', 48', 76', Cook 68' OG)
Man of the match: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
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Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic
John Zubrzycki, Hurst Publishers
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Results
Light Flyweight (49kg): Mirzakhmedov Nodirjon (UZB) beat Daniyal Sabit (KAZ) by points 5-0.
Flyweight (52kg): Zoirov Shakhobidin (UZB) beat Amit Panghol (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (56kg): Kharkhuu Enkh-Amar (MGL) beat Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov (UZB) 3-2.
Lightweight (60kg): Erdenebat Tsendbaatar (MGL) beat Daniyal Shahbakhsh (IRI) 5-0.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Baatarsukh Chinzorig (MGL) beat Shiva Thapa (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Bobo-Usmon Baturov (UZB) beat Ablaikhan Zhussupov (KAZ) RSC round-1.
Middleweight (75kg): Jafarov Saidjamshid (UZB) beat Abilkhan Amankul (KAZ) 4-1.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Ruzmetov Dilshodbek (UZB) beat Meysam Gheshlaghi (IRI) 3-2.
Heavyweight (91kg): Sanjeet (IND) beat Vassiliy Levit (KAZ) 4-1.
Super Heavyweight ( 91kg): Jalolov Bakhodir (UZB) beat Kamshibek Kunkabayev (KAZ) 5-0.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
