Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a report to Congress accusing the Israeli military of potentially violating international humanitarian law in their operations in Gaza, although no formal finding of violations was made. The report covered the period from January 1, 2023, to late April of the same year, and stated that the U.S. does not have complete information on the use of U.S. weapons by Israeli forces in actions inconsistent with international law. Israel’s cooperation with aid efforts initially lacked but has improved, according to the report, though aid reaching Palestinian civilians remains insufficient.
President Biden mandated this assessment in February, requiring written assurances from countries receiving U.S. military aid that the weapons are used in compliance with humanitarian law. Countries in active conflict, including Israel, faced a shorter deadline to submit these assurances. The report was compiled from various State Department bureaus and officials, including input from the Pentagon and White House. The first-of-its-kind report took longer than anticipated, with a delayed delivery to Congress as officials finalized its conclusions.
The report comes at a critical time in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, with President Biden announcing a pause in the delivery of bombs to Israel due to concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza. The White House expressed concern about the end use of these bombs and their impact on densely populated areas, prompting a review of other bomb deliveries. The ongoing airstrikes and ground operations in places like Rafah in Gaza have raised concerns about civilian lives, with the Biden administration advising Israel against broader operations that could endanger more civilians.
Since the start of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, nearly 35,000 Palestinian civilians, including many women and children, have been killed. The conflict escalated after Hamas militants killed hundreds of Israelis and took hostages, prompting Israeli forces to enter Gaza. Some Democratic lawmakers have accused Israel of violating U.S. law and are calling for penalties, while human rights organizations have criticized Israeli violations of international law and restrictions on humanitarian assistance. The State Department is investigating incidents in Gaza where civilians may have been harmed by American weapons and is considering invoking measures like the Leahy Law to address human rights violations by Israeli units.
The administration has faced pressure to ensure that U.S. military aid recipients comply with international law and humanitarian standards. President Biden’s decision to pause a bomb delivery to Israel highlighted concerns about the impact of weapons on civilian populations, sparking a broader discussion about U.S. assistance to conflict-affected regions. The report’s findings on potential violations of international law by Israel have implications for U.S. support for Israel and may lead to further scrutiny of Israeli military actions in Gaza.
