The #Biden admin has concluded it is “reasonable to assess” that #Israel’s military campaign in #Gaza has violated #InternationalLaw, but has not found specific instances that would justify the withholding of #military aid, #State Dept told #Congress Fri.
In the admin’s most detailed assessment of #Israel’s conduct in #Gaza, #State said in a written report to #Congress that Israel “has the knowledge, experience & tools to implement best practices for mitigating #civilian harm in its #military operations.”
But it added that “the results on the ground, including high levels of civilian casualties, raise substantial questions” as to whether the #IDF are using them sufficiently.
The report said that conclusion was based in part on the difficulty of collecting reliable information from the #war zone & the way #Hamas operates in densely populated areas. It also stressed that #Israel has begun the process of seeking accountability for possible violations of the #law, a key component in the #UnitedStates assessment about whether to provide #military aid to allies accused of #HumanRights violations.
“#Civilians have been killed in #Gaza as a consequence of those bombs & other ways in which they go after population centers,” #Biden said in an interview airing Wed evening on CNN, referring to 2k-pound #bombs supplied by the #US “I made it clear that if they go into #Rafah — they haven’t gone in…yet — if they go…, I’m not supplying the #weapons that have been used historically to deal …with the cities….”
The #Biden admin paused the shipment of thousands of weapons to #Israel, including controversial 2k-pound bombs, amid mounting concern about the country’s plan to expand a military operation in southern #Gaza that could dramatically increase the conflict’s death toll, U.S. ofcls said Tues.
When asked about the delays earlier Tues, #StateDepartment spox Matthew Miller declined to offer a rationale but said that US support for Israel’s right to defend itself against #Hamas remains intact.
[nonanswer answer]
In Washington, #US military support for #Israel receives overwhelming support from #Republicans & #Democrats in #Congress…
…powerful pro-Israel interest groups including the American Israel Public Affairs Cmte… is spending tens of millions …this #election cycle to unseat #Democrats it views as insufficiently pro- #Israel.
#Republicans assailed news of a delay in #weapons approvals as a “reprehensible” betrayal. “The #UnitedStates must stand with Israel. Period,” said Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC).
In Thur’s call, #Biden “made clear the need for #Israel to announce & implement a series of specific, concrete, & measurable steps to address #civilian harm, #humanitarian suffering, & the safety of #AidWorkers,” acc/to a WH summary of the call. “He made clear that #UnitedStates policy w/respect to #Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”
#Biden added that the #UnitedStates expected to see #Israel not just “announcing” changes, but “executing” & “implementing” them.
The WH summary of the Biden - #Netanyahu call added that #POTUS had told the Israeli prime minister that the #humanitarian situation in #Gaza was “unacceptable” & had called for an “immediate #ceasefire.”
During #Biden’s speech on #healthcare yesterday he was interrupted by protesters advocating for #Palestinians in #Gaza. Instead of ignoring them & moving on, #POTUS responded, “They have a point; we need to get more care into Gaza.” He added, “Everybody deserves healthcare.”
Remarks by #Gallant & #LloydAustin before the meeting underscored the divide. While both noted their countries’ commitment to #Israel’s #security, Gallant emphasized what he said was the urgent need to destroy #Hamas, secure the release of Israeli #hostages & “ensure Israel’s military edge & capabilities.”
#LloydAustin focused on the dire consequences the #war has had for #Palestinian#civilians. “The number of civilian casualties is far too high, & the amount of #HumanitarianAid is far too low,” he said. The safety of #Palestinians in #Rafah, where >1 million people are holed up, was a “top priority,” he added.
Each [of the 7] was given an initial 45 days for a snr ofcl to provide “credible & reliable written assurances” that it will use #UnitedStates defense material in accordance w/ #InternationalHumanitarianLaw & other laws.
The #LawOfWar imposes specific requirements on #targeting, protection of #civilians & treatment of #POWs.
The earlier warrants had a mostly symbolic impact. Russia, like the #UnitedStates, does not accept the #ICC’s #jurisdiction, & the court does not try people in absentia. But it has limited Putin’s travel to countries that accept the court’s jurisdiction.
#Israel, #Hamas & #US nearing deal on #hostage release, snr ofcls say
President #Biden; Michael Herzog, Israel’s ambassador to Washington; Prime Minister of #Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani; & Jonathan Finer, the US deputy #NationalSecurity adviser, all independently stated that agreement was close.
#Israel bombed the densely-populated #Jabalya#refugee camp in northern #Gaza for the 2nd time in 2 days Wednesday, prompting warnings of #WarCrimes by the UN #HumanRights Council (#OHCHR) & some nations took diplomatic measures & condemned Israel’s offensive in the besieged enclave.
You have to scroll a bit on the #UN news website, here (pic 1) is the entry re their concerns that #Israel’s #Jabalya#Refugee camp #airstrikes may be #WarCrimes. + a screenshot of the cited social media post (pic 2).