Washington Expresses Concern Over Use of American Weapons by West Jerusalem
Recent reports from the US State Department have raised “reasonable” concerns about West Jerusalem potentially violating humanitarian laws by using American weapons during its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. While the report criticized Israel’s military tactics, it stopped short of directly accusing them of violating specific laws that would necessitate the cessation of weapon supplies from Washington.
As Israel’s military operation in Gaza continues, resulting in a significant number of Palestinian civilian casualties, President Joe Biden has instructed government agencies to seek assurances regarding Israel’s use of US military aid. However, due to the nature of the conflict, conclusive findings are challenging to obtain.
The report highlighted that while Israel has taken steps to reduce collateral damage, the actual results on the ground, including high civilian casualties, raise doubts about the effectiveness of these measures. President Biden has acknowledged the role of US-made bombs in civilian deaths and vowed to halt weapon supplies for certain operations.
Despite tensions, Israel’s war cabinet has approved an expansion of the ground operation in Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirming Israel’s commitment to its military campaign.