The Washington Post quoted informed sources that the administration of President Joe Biden received about 500 reports about Israel’s use of American weapons in the war of extermination against civilians in the Gaza Strip, but the American administration did not take sufficient steps to investigate these allegations.
The sources, who refused to reveal their identity, explained that some of these reports received by the US State Department may involve violations of US and international laws.
The reports, which include documents from US government agencies, international organizations, human rights defenders and eyewitnesses, include photos of fragments of US-made bombs found at the sites of bombings that killed dozens of Palestinian children.
Although the State Department relies on the Civilian Incident Response Guidelines, which require an investigation within two months of receiving reports, none of these reports have reached the “action” stage, according to current and former US officials.
According to the newspaper, about two-thirds of the reports submitted remain unaddressed, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs awaits the Israeli government’s response to confirm the circumstances of the cases.
Criticism of the Biden administration
Many experts and analysts, such as John Ramming-Chappell of the Center on Civil Conflict, criticize what they see as the Biden administration’s willingness to “ignore evidence of civilian harm in order to continue transferring weapons to Israel.” Chapple noted that arms policies look “good on paper, but have no practical effect when talking about Israel.”
A US official, who requested anonymity in accordance with administration directives, stated that the government closely follows incidents that are referred to the State Department, and holds the Israeli government accountable for them. The official added that investigations help guide US policy toward the war, even if the cases are not resolved.
More than 90 people, including 25 children, were killed in an Israeli raid on a residential building in Gaza on Tuesday, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller expressed the United States’ “deep concern” about civilian casualties, stressing that Washington was seeking a “full explanation.”
For its part, the Israeli army said it was aware of reports of civilian casualties. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein refused to comment on the American investigations or Washington’s efforts to limit civilian harm, noting – in a statement – that “there is continuous and close communication with the American administration regarding Israel’s struggle against terrorist attacks on its citizens.”
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a devastating genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, with American support, which has so far resulted in the death and injury of more than 144,000 Palestinians, most of whom are children and women. More than 10,000 people are missing, amid massive destruction and famine that killed dozens of children and the elderly.
