The U.S. State Department recently criticized Israel's use of U.S.-supplied arms in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, raising concerns about the potential inconsistency in mitigating civilian harm. A report sent to Congress highlighted the challenges faced by Israel in dealing with Hamas, which has strategically embedded itself within civilian populations to use them as human shields.
The report acknowledged the difficulty of determining facts on the ground in an active war zone like Gaza, where legitimate military targets are interspersed with civilian areas. The conflict has resulted in a significant number of casualties, including women and children, according to the Palestinian government.
President Biden commissioned the report to assess whether Israel and other U.S. allies are adhering to international humanitarian law. Israeli officials have stated that the country is complying with international law and have implemented processes to ensure compliance at all levels of military decision-making. These measures include providing advanced warnings, using specific weapons, and avoiding sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship.
While the report acknowledged some of Israel's procedures and rules, it noted a lack of complete information to verify the specific use of U.S. arms in alleged violations of international humanitarian law. The nature of the conflict in Gaza makes it challenging to assess individual incidents conclusively.
International organizations and experts have raised concerns about the effectiveness of Israel's civilian harm mitigation efforts, citing inconsistencies and inadequacies in protecting vulnerable civilians who are unable or choose not to relocate. Despite Israel's capabilities and experience in mitigating civilian harm, the report highlighted the high levels of civilian casualties, prompting questions about the effectiveness of these measures.
Despite these concerns, the State Department deemed Israel's assurances regarding the use of U.S. weapons as credible and reliable, indicating that arms supply to Israel will continue. The situation in Gaza remains complex, with ongoing efforts to balance military objectives with the protection of civilian lives.
