House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner said Sunday that U.S. officials have fears the Israeli government is not adequately trying to avoid civilian casualties in its bombardment of the Gaza Strip to fight Hamas and that the intelligence community is being “selective” with the information it’s sharing with the foreign ally.
“The United States is very concerned to the extent that Israel is not doing enough to protect civilians,” the Ohio Republican said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “And, certainly, the issue goes even broader to the issue of humanitarian aid being provided to the Palestinians who are equally prisoners of Hamas.”
The concern comes amid a mounting death toll in the densely populated Gaza Strip and as Congress weighs $14.3 billion in military aid to Israel to counter the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
Mr. Turner said, based on conversations and information from the intelligence community, including CIA Director William Burns, the U.S. is being cautious with the intel it provides Israel in an apparent attempt to prevent strikes that could result in more civilian deaths.
“We are being selective as to the information that’s being provided. It’s one thing to be able to look to try to identify a specific individual, and provide information as to their location and operations, and actually directing an operation,” Mr. Turner said. “Director Burns has been very clear that we are not just providing direct access to our intelligence, and that certainly gives us the ability to have caution.”
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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