Washington, DC – The United States raised concerns over the potential use of American-supplied weapons by Israel in breach of international humanitarian law in Gaza. The State Department’s assessment suggested that these arms may have been utilized in ways inconsistent with Israel’s obligations, although complete information was not available at the time of the report.
The White House-ordered review scrutinized the use of US-supplied arms by Israel and six other countries engaged in conflict since the beginning of last year. While the report criticized some Israeli operations in Gaza, it refrained from definitively stating that the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) campaign had violated international law.
Acknowledging Israel’s significant reliance on US-made weapons, the report indicated that these arms may have been used in ways inconsistent with international humanitarian law obligations or established best practices for minimizing civilian harm. It also noted challenges in determining legitimate targets due to Hamas’ use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes and human shields.
The State Department found that Israel did not initially fully cooperate with US efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza during the conflict’s early stages. However, the report mentioned a shift in this situation over time. David Satterfield, a former US ambassador to Turkey and a contributor to the report, emphasized the unique nature of the conflict and stated that the US would continue monitoring Israeli actions.
Over 80,000 people fled Rafah, according to the UN, with Israeli tanks positioned near built-up areas amid ongoing bombardment. Israeli troops controlled and closed the Rafah crossing with Egypt at the campaign’s outset, while the UN faced challenges reaching the reopened Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel due to safety concerns.
Israel initiated the military campaign in response to Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, resulting in numerous casualties and significant displacement in Gaza. The territory’s Hamas-run health ministry reported a high number of fatalities since the conflict began, adding to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.