A former senior US official, who recently played a role in overseeing human-rights compliance by foreign militaries receiving American military assistance, spoke out on Wednesday about what he described as “special treatment” given to Israel by US officials when it comes to scrutinizing allegations of Israeli military abuses against Palestinian civilians.
Charles O. Blaha, who held a director position in a State Department security and human rights office until August, emphasized that his departure from the State Department was unrelated to the US-Israeli security relationship. However, he highlighted a pattern of preferential treatment towards Israel, noting that Israeli officials often receive undue deference when the US investigates allegations of wrongdoing against Palestinians.
Blaha’s remarks were made during an event where he and other former senior US civilian and military officials released a report pointing to civilian casualties in specific airstrikes in Gaza. They asserted that there was “compelling and credible” evidence indicating illegal actions by Israeli forces.
Blaha’s observations echoed those of another former State Department official and panel member, Josh Paul, who resigned from his position overseeing arms transfers to protest the US rushing arms to Israel during the conflict in Gaza.
In response to these allegations, a State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel, denied the existence of a double standard or special treatment. Israeli officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Israel has consistently maintained that it adheres to all laws in its use of US military aid and conducts investigations into allegations against its security forces.
The Biden administration, under pressure over its support for Israel amid mounting Palestinian casualties, is expected to announce its official findings from reviews into allegations of serious human rights abuses by specific Israeli military units.
Additionally, the administration is due to disclose by May 8 whether Israel’s use of US military aid complies with international and human rights law, as mandated by a presidential national security memo issued in February.
