Advocates Urge White House To Launch New Investigation Of Israel’s Campaign In Gaza

With mounting evidence it would stop sending Israel 30 types of military supplies, including parts for jets and drones, because U.K. officials had concluded the equipment could be used to break international humanitarian law. The determination by the U.S.’s closest foreign ally could boost scrutiny of whether the Biden administration is accurately investigating Israel’s adherence to the global standards governing warfare.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the British step “shameful” and claimed Israel “is comporting fully with international law.”

Meanwhile, Netanyahu is challenging U.S.-led efforts to reach a deal for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages captured in the Oct. 7 attack, even after six hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were found dead on Sunday. Netanyahu’s actions suggest that without more pressure from the U.S., Israel’s main backer, the fighting — and continued seeming violations of American and international law — will continue.

Another factor will be introduced when lawmakers return to Capitol Hill later this month. Many Democrats in both chambers of Congress have challenged the flow of U.S. weapons to Israel, saying Biden should limit exports to force Israel to limit harm to civilians, permit more aid into Gaza and demonstrate it is upholding American and international laws. In the coming weeks, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is expected to force a Senate vote on the matter, using a special legislative procedure to urge his colleagues to reject the Biden administration’s recently announced plan to send Israel an additional $20 billion in U.S. military equipment.

In the Tuesday letter, advocates for a change in Biden’s policy highlight research showing Israeli conduct is out of step with U.S. expectations, with a particular focus on developments since the NSM report was issued.

The amount of relief aid entering Gaza has plummeted since Israel took full control of the territory’s borders in May by capturing its southern boundary with Egypt, while aid workers “routinely come under fire” and 96% of the region’s residents lack sufficient food, the message notes. It adds that watchdogs and news outlets have tied Israeli strikes that killed dozens of Palestinians to U.S.-provided bombs, while rights groups have accused Israeli authorities of severely mistreating Palestinians who they have detained.

American officials could be putting themselves in legal jeopardy, per the letter, since they are aware of the pattern of alleged Israeli violations of international law and because of moves by international bodies, like the International Court of Justice, which in July directed governments not to assist Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, including Gaza, and the International Criminal Court, which is considering issuing warrants for the arrest of Netanyahu and his defense minister.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, two of the statement’s signatories, publicly warned of U.S. government personnel’s liability last month.

The Biden “administration’s arming of the Israeli government has been and continues to be shockingly out of step with the realities of civilian harm and suffering in Gaza,” the message reads.