Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen voiced concerns on Sunday regarding the Biden administration‘s assessment of Israel’s compliance with international law following a Reuters report.
The report highlighted skepticism among senior U.S. officials regarding the credibility of Israel’s assurances, particularly regarding the lawful use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Gaza.
Van Hollen raised questions about the integrity of the review process, suggesting that certain recommendations from State Department bureaus were disregarded for political expediency.
The report revealed that some State Department officials advised Secretary of State Antony Blinken that they did not find Israel’s assurances credible or reliable.
These officials expressed doubts about Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law based on its military actions in Gaza.
According to an internal memo, several bureaus within the State Department cited concerns over potential violations of international law.
Senator Van Hollen emphasized the importance of factual and legal determinations in assessing compliance with international law, warning against ignoring facts and laws to achieve predetermined policy outcomes.
He stressed that the credibility of the U.S. is at stake and urged the administration to uphold integrity in its evaluation process.
Van Hollen and other Democratic lawmakers have urged President Biden to impose conditions on military assistance to pressure Israel into minimizing civilian casualties in the Gaza conflict. However, the Biden administration has not taken such actions thus far.
The conflict, which has entered its seventh month, was sparked by an attack by Hamas militants, resulting in casualties in Israel and the abduction of hostages.
Israel’s military response has led to significant casualties and displacement in Gaza, raising concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law.
