Israel likely violating international humanitarian law: US Officials

Washington: Some senior US officials told Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Israel is likely to be violating international humanitarian law, Reuters reported citing an internal State Department memo.

Officials, reportedly, did not find ‘ credible or reliable’ assurance from Israel that it is using US-supplied weapons conforming to international humanitarian law.

The update comes as Blinken is about to report to Congress by May 8 if he finds credible assurance on the part of Israel that it is not violating US or international law in the use of US weapons.

The submissions to the memo contributed by seven State Department bureaus, being sent to Blinken by March 24, give the picture of ‘divisions inside’ the department over the question of Israel violating international humanitarian law in Gaza.

"Some components in the department favored accepting Israel's assurances, some favored rejecting them and some took no position," Reuters quoted a US official as saying.

Four bureaus namely Democracy Human Rights & Labor; Population, Refugees and Migration; Global Criminal Justice and International Organization Affairs in their submissions raised ‘concern over non-compliance’ by Israel with international humanitarian law during its war in Gaza.

They further made it clear that Israel's assurances were "neither credible nor reliable."

Citing eight examples of Israeli military actions, including repeatedly attacking protected sites and civilian structure, the officials reportedly said they raise ‘ serious questions’ over possible violations of the international humanitarian law.

The attack in Gaza led to "unconscionably high levels of civilian harm to military advantage" alongside "killing humanitarian workers and journalists at an unprecedented rate."

However, a submission from the bureau of Political and Military Affairs warned Blinken that suspending US weapon sales will limit Israel’s ability to counter threat from outside its airspace.

It directed authorities to assess "all ongoing and future sales to other countries in the region."

The bureau also pointed out that any suspension of the US arms supply will lead to ‘provocations’ by Iran and militias.