2024-05-12 17:56:34
In a long-awaited and somewhat confusing report to Congress, the Biden administration said it believes Israel‘s assurances that it will use American weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law in the ongoing war in Gaza against Hamas are reliable and credible.
However, the State Department report also said there was “reason to believe” that Israel has used US-supplied weapons in cases that are “not consistent” with its obligations under international humanitarian law. However, the report added that it does not have complete information to verify that US weapons were used in specific activities that are alleged to be violations of international humanitarian law.
Note that this report was submitted to Congress in accordance with the new National Security Memorandum (NSM), which US President Joe Biden issued in early February. Thus, the State Department was asked to report to Congress whether it considers Israeli assurances reliable that its use of American weapons does not violate American or international law.
“The embassies of Bogota, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Nairobi, Abuja, Mogadishu and Kyiv have received the necessary assurances signed by the designated representatives of their countries. These statements have been reviewed by the State Department to determine their accuracy and reliability,” the State Department wrote.
“While some countries experienced significant circumstances of concern during the reporting period, the U.S. Government currently assesses the assurances provided by each recipient country as credible and reliable to allow continued supply of defense items subject to NSM-20,” – the report says.
However, it also notes: “Israel has not provided complete information to verify whether US defense products covered by NSM-20 were used in activities that have been accused of violating IHL or IHRL in Gaza or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in period of validity of the report.”
It adds: “Nevertheless, given Israel’s significant dependence on US-made defense products, there is reason to believe that defense products covered by NSM-20 have been used by Israeli security forces since October 7 in cases not consistent with IHL obligations or established practices to mitigate harm to civilians.”
Cursor previously wrote that Ambassador Michael Herzog commented on Biden’s change in position on aid to Israel.