US suggests Israeli use of US arms breaches int’l law, evidence incomplete

The Biden administration has expressed concerns that Israel’s employment of U.S.-supplied weaponry in Gaza might have contravened international humanitarian laws. However, due to the chaotic nature of war, they could not definitively determine violations in specific airstrikes.

This conclusion, marking one of the administration’s most forthright statements on Israel’s military actions, was part of a report to Congress. The report arose from an unprecedented review initiated by Democratic lawmakers, which scrutinized the usage of American weapons in Israel’s extensive military operations in Gaza over the past seven months—a conflict resulting in nearly 35,000 Palestinian casualties, predominantly women and children.

The investigation revealed that while U.S. officials lacked complete data on particular strikes, the broad usage of U.S. weapons by Israeli forces likely involved violations of international standards meant to protect civilians. This assessment was supported by independent analyses from human rights organizations and expert panels, which documented over a dozen Israeli airstrikes potentially violating warfare and humanitarian laws.

Despite Israel’s assertions of compliance with U.S. and international laws and its internal reviews of military conduct, the U.S. report highlighted the stark contrast between Israel’s capabilities to minimize civilian harm and the high civilian death tolls observed.

The U.S. has maintained a delicate balance in its support for Israel, especially as President Biden navigates a reelection campaign amid intensifying domestic and international criticism over his stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Recent U.S. actions included a temporary hold on a bomb shipment to Israel, reflecting growing pressures to condition military aid.

The report also addressed concerns about Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza, suggesting that while Israel has recently made some improvements, it had played a significant role in hindering aid delivery during the conflict.

In conclusion, the report by the State and Defense departments neither confirmed nor completely dismissed the allegations against Israel, thereby not mandating a cessation of arms but raising serious concerns about the use of U.S. military support in the region.