- Tom Bateman, State Department Correspondent
- bbc news
image source, Getty Images
The US claims that Israel may have used US-supplied weapons during the Gaza war in violation of international humanitarian law.
The State Department said it was “reasonable to assess” that the weapons were used in a manner “inconsistent” with Israel’s obligations.
However, he added that the U.S. assessment does not have complete information and shipments may continue.
The report was submitted to parliament late on Friday.
The White House-ordered investigation looked into how the United States, along with six other countries involved in the conflict, has used weapons supplied by the United States since early last year.
The report explicitly condemned some of Israel’s operations in Gaza, but stopped short of definitively stating that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations violated international law.
The paper said Israel had to face an “extraordinary military challenge” in fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
It added that the assurances it received from Israel about compliance with the lawful use of American weapons were “credible and reliable.”
The document also states that Hamas “uses civilian infrastructure for military purposes and uses civilians as human shields,” and that “facts must be determined on the ground in active combat zones” to determine what constitutes a legitimate target. He pointed out that it is often difficult to do so.
But the report said given Israel’s heavy reliance on US-made weapons, they were likely “used in cases inconsistent with IHL.” [international humanitarian law] with established best practices to mandate or reduce harm to civilians. ”
It further states that “Israel has the knowledge, experience, and tools to implement best practices to reduce harm to civilians during military operations,” but “Israel has the knowledge, experience, and tools to implement best practices to reduce harm to civilians in military operations.” The results raise serious questions about whether the Israel Defense Forces will operate properly.” We use them effectively in all cases. ”
The United Nations and humanitarian organizations called Israel’s efforts to reduce civilian casualties “incoherent, ineffective and inadequate,” according to the report.
The State Department found that Israel did not fully cooperate with U.S. efforts to “maximize” humanitarian aid to Gaza during the first months of the conflict. However, this situation has changed, the company said.
“At this time, we do not assess that the Israeli government prohibits or restricts the delivery or delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid,” the report said.
One of the report’s contributors, former US Ambassador to Turkey David Satterfield, told the BBC that the report was the first of its kind and that the US would continue to “review” Israel’s actions. He said he would continue.
“This is a conflict quite unlike any the world has ever experienced,” he added. “We considered all of these factors and tried to make a very honest and reliable judgment.”
More than 80,000 people have been evacuated from Rafah since Monday, according to the United Nations, and Israeli tanks are reportedly massing near the city center amid constant shelling.
Israeli forces seized and closed the Rafah border with Egypt at the start of the operation, but the United Nations said it was too dangerous for personnel and trucks to reach the reopened Kerem Shalom border with Israel.
Israel launched a military operation to annihilate Hamas in the Gaza Strip after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 252 hostages. More than 34,900 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-controlled region’s health ministry.
