Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pressed a high-level U.S. Department of War nominee on his commitment to an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and U.S. support for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, claiming that Israel “initiated a war” against Gaza.
Quizzing Austin Dahmer on Tuesday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination for the role of assistant U.S. secretary of war for strategy, plans and capabilities, Warren homed in on a social media post in which Dahmer said that aid to Palestinians makes U.S. “support for Israel look performative.”
Warren was also harshly critical of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the U.S.-backed aid delivery agency launched in May as an alternative to the United Nations. The senator has called for the foundation to be investigated and has voted multiple times to impose an arms embargo on Israel.
The foundation says that it has delivered more than 200 million meals to Gazans using a centralized system, which circumvents Hamas looting. It said that it plans to expand the number of sites and operating hours.
The United Nations has largely declined to work with the foundation, stating that it operates outside the principles of humanitarian aid. Critics have alleged that Israeli troops protecting areas near foundation distribution sites have fired on aid seekers. Israel has denied those charges in strong terms, as has the United States. A boy seeking aid was found alive after Israel was accused of killing him.
“I think President Trump has been clear not only that he’s focused on peace, but that he expects both Israel and Hamas to abide by the ceasefire,” Dahmer told Warren, in response to her question about his social media post.
Warren doubled back, asking if Dahmer thinks “the GHF has a record of success in delivering aid to Palestinians?”
“It’s a yes or no question,” she said.
Dahmer said he didn’t have enough information about the foundation, drawing Warren’s ire. “Expertise is critical here, and I’m worried DoD’s complete indifference to the experience in delivering aid will only cost more Palestinians their lives,” she said.
The DoD refers to the Department of Defense, which U.S. President Donald Trump rebranded as the Department of War.
Warren asked if the Pentagon would “be more successful by partnering with experienced aid organizations that have had some real success in delivering that aid?”
Dahmer had noted a video, which U.S. Central Command released, showing Hamas looting an aid truck.
“I would agree that a demonstrated record of success would be a positive indicator of future success,” he said.
