Democratic Lawmakers Uncover Evidence of Israel’s Involvement in Violating US Law
Lawmakers affirm in a letter to Biden that Israel's restrictions on aid to Gaza do not comply with US foreign aid law
Legislators from the American Democratic Party said in a letter to President Joe Biden that they believe there is sufficient evidence to prove that Israel violated US law by restricting the flow of humanitarian aid to the war-devastated Gaza Strip.
The letter, signed by 86 Democratic members of the House of Representatives, stated that Israel’s restrictions on aid “raise doubts” about its assertions that it complies with a provision in US foreign aid law requiring recipients of US-funded weapons to respect international humanitarian law and allow the free flow of US aid.
Biden issued a note regarding national security in February requiring written assurances after Democratic lawmakers began to question Israel’s compliance with international law in its operations in Gaza.
Lawmakers said the Israeli government resisted repeated US requests to open sufficient maritime and land routes to deliver aid to Gaza, citing reports that it did not allow enough food entry to avoid famine and imposed an inspection system and “arbitrary restrictions” on aid, hindering supplies.
Lawmakers wrote, “We expect the administration to ensure (Israel) complies with current law and takes all possible steps to prevent further humanitarian disasters in Gaza.”
Biden‘s note issued in February requires Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide a report to Congress by Wednesday on whether there are credible confirmations from Israel that its use of US weapons complies with international law.
At least four offices in the State Department informed Blinken last month that they found Israeli assurances “not credible and cannot be relied upon.”
If Israeli assurances are called into question, Biden will have the option to “address” the situation through measures ranging from seeking new assurances to suspending the transfer of US weapons, according to the note.
Israel denies violating international law and restricting aid in its war against the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement Hamas, which erupted after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1200 people and taking over 200 hostages, according to Israeli statistics.
The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in ongoing fighting for nearly seven months, which has caused massive destruction in the Gaza Strip, displaced most of its 2.3 million inhabitants, and caused severe food and water shortages.
Cindy McCain, executive director of the UN World Food Programme, told NBC News that there is now a “widespread famine” in northern Gaza.
McCain, the widow of the late Senator John McCain, added in excerpts from an interview aired Sunday on Face the Press that she hopes to achieve a ceasefire to allow faster delivery of aid.
US officials say that while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s government has taken steps to facilitate aid entry, the quantities remain insufficient.
Legislators condemned the Hamas attack on October 7 in their letter to Biden and supported Israel’s right to exist, expressing their support for US mediation efforts for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
They pointed out that Israel had recently opened more aid routes and crossings to Gaza, allowing more aid trucks to enter.
However, legislators expressed “serious concerns” about Israel’s behavior in the war “regarding the deliberate blocking of humanitarian aid.”
They urged Biden to “clarify” to Netanyahu that “if Israel continues to directly or indirectly impose restrictions on aid entry to Gaza, the Israeli government risks losing its eligibility for further US security military aid.”
