Senior US officials told Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in an internal memo reviewed by Reuters, that they found no “credible or documented” assurances regarding Israel’s use of American weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law.
While some officials supported Israel’s claims of adhering to international law, a National Security Memorandum issued by President Joe Biden in February requires Blinken to report to Congress by May 8, determining whether there are reliable Israeli assurances that their use of American weapons does not violate US or international law.
By March 24, at least seven US State Department offices had contributed to an initial “options memo” for Blinken. Some parts of this memo, previously undisclosed, were marked as classified.
The contributions to the memo provide the most comprehensive picture yet of the divisions within the State Department over Israel’s potential violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. One US official stated, “Some elements in the department preferred accepting the Israeli assurances, others favored rejecting them, and others took no stance.”
A joint presentation by four offices—the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration; the Office of Global Criminal Justice; and the Bureau of International Organization Affairs—expressed “serious concerns about the lack of compliance” with international humanitarian law during Israel’s pursuit of the Gaza war. The assessment from these four offices stated that the Israeli assurances “are not credible and cannot be relied upon.” They cited eight examples of Israeli military actions that officials said raised “serious questions” about potential violations of international humanitarian law.
Since the October 7 Hamas attack, the US stance toward Israel has been characterized by strong support, although this has been met with some criticism due to the humanitarian impact of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. President Joe Biden has consistently emphasized Israel’s “right to defend itself” and his administration has provided military support to Israel, while avoiding calls for a ceasefire or accountability for civilian casualties.
Vice President Kamala Harris has also shown support for Israel but has urged for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and expressed concern about the humanitarian conditions there. Harris emphasized the importance of reaching a deal for a truce and the release of captives taken by Hamas.
The internal divisions within the US regarding its policy towards Israel are also evident, as there has been significant criticism and pressure from the public and some government officials concerning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This has led to a more nuanced rhetoric from the administration, mentioning humanitarian efforts without directly challenging Israel’s actions in Gaza.
