U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warned that "the war in Gaza has contributed to the emergence of new security threats to the United States from terrorist groups, due to Washington's support for Israel." Haines stated, "This crisis has spurred violence from various actors around the world," noting that "while it is too early to know the extensions and impacts of this, the conflict in Gaza is likely to pose terrorist threats that could persist for generations."
She explained that "the attack on October 7 by Hamas on Israel led to the emergence of new threats to the United States from groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS, while Iranian-backed militant groups have used the conflict as an opportunity to pursue their own agenda against the U.S." Haines warned that "the conflict in Gaza also poses challenges for many key Arab partners, who are facing public sentiment against Israel and the United States due to the death and destruction in the Strip, but who also view Washington as a mediator in a better position to end the war before it extends deeper into the region."
Meanwhile, CIA Director William J. Burns briefed lawmakers on the latest developments in ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, which would accompany assurances for the flow of humanitarian aid and the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. During the session, Republican Senator Tom Cotton, a strong supporter of Israel, urged Burns and Haines to refute claims by critics that Israel is "exterminating the Palestinian people" with its military campaign. The officials rejected that assertion. Burns stated that while the administration understands "Israel's need" to respond to the brutal attack it faced on October 7, "I think we all need to keep in mind the massive casualties that this attack has inflicted on innocent civilians in Gaza."
Cotton asked the intelligence official, "Is Israel starving children in Palestine or in Gaza?" Burns replied, "The truth is that there are children who are starving... They are suffering from malnutrition, as a result of humanitarian aid being unable to reach them. It is very difficult to distribute humanitarian aid effectively unless there is a ceasefire."
