Green Bay Reporter

Rep. Mike Gallagher, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation, recently engaged in a committee hearing focused on U.S. national security challenges in the Middle East and Africa. In a notable exchange during the hearing, Dr. Celeste Wallander, Department of Defense Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, publicly committed the Biden administration's support for Israel's efforts to dismantle Hamas.

Responding to Rep. Gallagher's inquiries, Dr. Wallander affirmed the high moral and ethical standards of both the United States military and the Israeli Defense Forces. She stated, "I do believe that the Israeli Defense Forces hold themselves to that high standard," and further emphasized that Israel takes steps to avoid civilian casualties.

In contrast, Dr. Wallander acknowledged the ruthless tactics employed by Hamas, labeling them as a terrorist organization that disregards human life. She highlighted Hamas's use of human shields and confirmed incidents where civilians in Gaza suffered due to Hamas's actions.

The discussion culminated with Rep. Gallagher questioning Dr. Wallander about the potential for ending the conflict swiftly if Hamas ceased hostilities. Dr. Wallander concurred, stating, "If Hamas ended their war against Israel the conflict could be over today." Ultimately, she affirmed the administration's steadfast backing of Israel's objective to neutralize Hamas.

The exchange between Rep. Gallagher and Dr. Wallander underscores the ongoing efforts to address security challenges in the Middle East and highlights the Biden administration's support for Israel in combatting Hamas.