In a report to Congress on Friday, the President Biden administration stated that while it’s “reasonable to assess” that Israel may have violated international law in Gaza, it has not violated terms of U.S. weapons agreements.
The report acknowledged concerns about Israel’s actions contributing to difficulties in delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza but did not find evidence of Israel preventing or restricting the transport of U.S. assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act.
However, it raised questions about the effectiveness of Israel’s measures to minimize civilian harm in military operations, particularly in light of high levels of civilian casualties.
The report highlighted limitations in accessing information from Israel, noting that while some details were provided, complete information on the use of certain U.S.-supplied weapons in alleged violations of international law was lacking.
Despite these challenges, the report emphasized sustained engagement by the United States with Israel at the highest levels to address humanitarian concerns in Gaza. It also indicated ongoing monitoring and response efforts to ensure aid delivery to Palestinian civilians.
The President Biden administration’s assessment underscores the complexities of U.S.-Israel relations amid ongoing humanitarian crises in Gaza and the broader Middle East region.
