Amnesty: US-Made Weapon Linked to Israeli Airstrikes Killing 43 in Gaza

An Amnesty International investigation has linked a U.S.-manufactured weapons guidance system to two Israeli airstrikes in Gaza in October, which reportedly killed 43 civilians. Fragments of the Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) system were discovered in the debris of homes in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. This discovery marks one of the first instances where an American-made weapon has been directly associated with an attack resulting in significant civilian casualties.

Israel, a frequent user of American weapons, had conducted these airstrikes. The JDAM system, described by the U.S. Air Force, turns traditional bombs into precision-guided ‘smart’ munitions, capable of operating in adverse weather.

Amnesty’s findings, derived from on-site weapon experts and satellite imagery, indicate the absence of military targets at the strike locations, suggesting the attacks may have directly targeted civilians or were indiscriminately conducted. As such, Amnesty has called for these actions to be investigated as potential war crimes.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have criticized the report as biased, defending their intelligence operations and stating that their military actions are always reviewed to enhance future operations and minimize civilian harm.

The U.S. State Department and the Pentagon are currently reviewing the findings of the Amnesty report. The U.S., which has provided substantial military aid to Israel, averaging $3 billion annually, emphasizes the importance of protecting civilians and expects adherence to the laws of armed conflict.

The Amnesty report has raised serious concerns about the use of American weapons in these airstrikes and has urged the U.S. government to reassess its arms supply to Israel to prevent potential violations of international law. The attacks detailed include a devastating strike on a family home that killed 21 members of the al-Najjar family and another attack that killed 18 members of the Abu Mu’eileq family.