The US government said Israel may have used American weapons in a way that broke international law during the recent war in Gaza.
- The White House ordered a review of how some countries used US-supplied weapons
- The review found Israel likely misused American weapons in Gaza in some instances
- But the US will still provide Israel with weapons, saying Israel’s investigations are credible
Did the Israeli military improperly use US weapons in Gaza? Let’s take a closer look.
US Review Finds Potential Misuse of Weapons
The US State Department conducted a review ordered by President Biden. The review examined how seven countries used weapons supplied by the United States.
After missing its deadline, the State Department finally released a report with its findings. A key line in the report states:
“It is reasonable to assess that weapons supplied by the United States have been used by Israeli Security Forces since October 7th in instances inconsistent with international humanitarian law.”
This means the review concluded that Israel likely misused American weapons in some cases during the Gaza conflict, violating international laws about armed conflicts.
But US Will Still Supply Israel With Weapons
However, the report did not recommend withholding weapons from Israel going forward. It said the US considers Israel’s process for “dealing with and investigating” potential misuses of weapons as credible.
This points to the problematic position President Biden is in. Some of his supporters wanted him to restrict weapons to Israel over the Gaza crisis. However, others felt he was not demonstrating enough support for a key US ally in the Middle East region.
Israel’s Response
Israeli officials have not yet provided an official response to the US report and its findings. However, they have previously denied accusations of violating international laws during military operations in Gaza.
The Israeli government has stated that its military follows strict rules of engagement and makes efforts to avoid civilian casualties when using weapons and force. They claim Hamas fighters operate in civilian areas, using hospitals and schools, making civilian deaths unavoidable at times.
Ongoing Tensions in Gaza
The review covered Israel’s actions during periods of intense conflict in Gaza last year. Palestinian militant groups like Hamas frequently fire rockets from Gaza into Israeli cities and communities.
Israel responds with air strikes and artillery aimed at taking out militant leaders and infrastructure used to launch rocket attacks. However, these operations often damage civilian areas and structures in the densely populated Gaza Strip.
Civilian casualties in Gaza during these conflicts have drawn international criticism and accusations that Israel uses disproportionate force at times.
Looking Ahead
The findings of potential legal violations will likely add to already strained relations between the Biden administration and Israel’s government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
It remains to be seen if the report’s conclusions will have any tangible effects, such as policy changes or restrictions on American military aid to Israel.
Will the US take any actions in response to Israel potentially misusing its weapons? Only time will tell.
