The US administration is divided over Israel’s violation of international law in Gaza
Last Updated on April 28, 2024 8:33 am
Israeli forces have been fighting the Palestinian independence movement Hamas for more than six months in the besieged Gaza Strip. The US administration is divided over whether Israel is using the weapons provided by the United States in this war in accordance with international law, that is, whether Israel is violating international law or not.
Israel says it is using US weapons in Gaza in accordance with international law. However, some US officials told US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that they found no credible evidence for Israel’s commitment.
An internal memo of the US State Department in this regard has been obtained by the news agency Reuters.
Last February, President Joe Biden issued a National Security Memorandum (NSM). It says Blinken must submit a report to Congress by May 8 on whether Israel is using US-supplied weapons in Gaza in accordance with international law.
By March 24, seven bureaus of the US State Department sent Blinken their opinion memos. A US official said, ‘Some views have gone in favor of Israel. Some went against Israel. And some did not take any side.
The US Department of State’s Departments of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Population, Refugees and Migration, Global Criminal Justice and International Organization Affairs are concerned about Israel’s violations of international law in the Gaza war.
The four bureaus said they had not found credible evidence of Israel’s non-violation of international law. They also questioned the eight operations of the Israeli army. These, they claim, raise serious questions about potential violations of international humanitarian law.
In another memo reviewed by Reuters, the Bureau of Political and Military Affairs issued warnings to Blinken regarding US military aid and arms transfers.
It is said that if the supply of US weapons is stopped, Israel’s ability to prevent possible threats outside its airspace will be reduced. Any suspension of US arms sales would invite provocations by Iran and allied militias. However, this memo does not say anything about Israel’s violation of international law.
The US State Department’s Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor Combat Antisemitism says it has found credible evidence of Israel’s commitment.
However, the US State Department’s Legal Bureau has not taken a significant position on Israel’s commitment to violations of international law.
Matthew Miller, spokesman for the department, said they would not comment on the leaked documents.
Earlier, the Biden administration has repeatedly said that it has not found evidence that Israel is attacking Gaza in violation of international law.
Blinken has seen all of the bureau’s assessments of Israel, a US official told Reuters.
When asked about the memo, an Israeli official said, “Israel is fully committed to implementing its commitments.” This includes promises made to the US government.
The White House did not comment on the memo.