Senior officials within the US State Department are in disagreement over the assurances provided by Israel regarding its use of US-supplied weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law. This internal debate has come to light through an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is tasked with reporting to Congress by May 8 on the credibility of Israel’s assurances. However, the State Department is divided on this issue, with different bureaus expressing contrasting views.
Some bureaus, including the Democracy Human Rights & Labor; Population, Refugees and Migration; Global Criminal Justice and International Organization Affairs, have raised serious concerns about Israel’s compliance with international law during the Gaza conflict. They cited instances of Israeli military actions causing civilian harm and imposing restrictions on humanitarian aid.
On the other hand, the Bureau of Political and Military Affairs cautioned Blinken that suspending U.S. weapons sales to Israel could impact its defense capabilities and provoke Iran and aligned militias. Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism and U.S. ambassador to Israel deemed Israel’s assurances as credible and reliable.
The State Department’s legal bureau did not take a substantive position on the credibility of Israel’s assurances.
This internal divide highlights the complexities surrounding U.S. support for Israel and the challenges of ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law during conflicts. The differing perspectives within the State Department underscore the nuanced discussions and considerations involved in addressing these critical issues.
