U.S. assessment suggests U.S. weapons may have been used in Gaza in ways that violate international law

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a highly anticipated report to Congress on Friday regarding the Israeli military’s operations in Gaza. The report accused Israeli forces of potentially violating international humanitarian law but did not formally find that they had already done so. The report covers the period from Jan. 1, 2023, through late April of this year.

The report highlighted allegations of Israel violating international humanitarian law during this period, but noted that the U.S. lacks complete information on whether U.S. weapons were used in these actions. Despite this, the report suggests that U.S.-made defense articles have been used by Israeli security forces in ways inconsistent with international humanitarian law obligations.

While the report criticizes Israel for potentially falling short of using best practices to reduce civilian casualties, it also acknowledges Israel’s efforts to inform Gazan civilians of tactical pauses and precautionary measures. The report also mentions ongoing criminal investigations by Israel into allegations related to deaths and treatment of detainees.

The report comes at a critical time in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, with President Biden recently pausing a shipment of bombs to Israel due to concerns about civilian casualties. The report has faced criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, with calls for more stringent enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with international law.

Overall, the report sheds light on the complexities of the situation in Gaza and the challenges of balancing humanitarian concerns with military operations. It underscores the need for continued scrutiny and accountability in the ongoing conflict.