Outrage as State Dept Backs Israel, Claims No US Law Breached Blocking Gaza Aid

Worldwide human rights organizations expressed outrage following the U.S. State Department’s declaration on Tuesday that Israel’s actions in Gaza, which include obstructing humanitarian aid and widespread destruction, do not breach international humanitarian laws.

In recent developments, the Biden administration, which has been a staunch supporter of Israel by providing substantial military aid amounting to tens of billions of dollars since October 2023, issued a warning to the Israeli government. A letter threatened the cessation of U.S. arms supplies unless Israel took “urgent and sustained actions” to better the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza within a 30-day period.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, when questioned whether Israel had complied with the stipulations of the letter, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel stated, “we have not made an assessment that they are in violation of U.S. law.”

Patel acknowledged the grim humanitarian situation in Gaza but emphasized that the focus was on the actions being observed. “While the humanitarian condition is far from satisfactory, our evaluation is based on the actions taken. We view these as positive steps, notably the partial reopening of the Erez border crossing,” Patel explained. “We expect to see more and consistent actions that will significantly alleviate the situation.”

Patel affirmed that the Biden administration is not excusing Israel from accountability.

However, humanitarian organizations have labeled the conditions in northern Gaza as “apocalyptic,” highlighting the extreme suffering and potential ethnic cleansing through starvation tactics aimed at the local population. Reports of massive civilian casualties, including many women and children, are rampant, with the threat of widespread famine looming.

On Tuesday, a collective of eight global aid organizations, including Oxfam International, CARE, and Save the Children, released a report named The Gaza Scorecard: Israel Fails to Comply With U.S. Humanitarian Access Demands in Gaza. The report found Israel non-compliant with all 19 specific actions demanded by the U.S. administration.

The report sharply criticized Israel’s actions, noting, “The entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine, and violence,” as assessed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. The report emphasized Israel’s failure to meet U.S. and international expectations, suggesting accountability is necessary for the dire outcomes.

Raed Jarrar, advocacy director at Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), criticized Israel for its “performative” gestures, which did little to alleviate the dire circumstances in northern Gaza. Jarrar highlighted the continued displacement without the possibility of return for Palestinians from northern Gaza.

Furthermore, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have explicitly stated they do not intend to allow residents from the northern regions of Gaza to return to their homes.

Meanwhile, aid workers report severe risks to Palestinians attempting to escape the conflict zones, including the site of severe atrocities at the Jabalia refugee camp.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague is currently deliberating whether Israel’s actions constitute a breach of the Genocide Convention, having received provisional orders to cease genocidal acts and allow humanitarian aid access.

DAWN emphasized the U.S. obligation under the Genocide Convention to prevent genocide and avoid complicity, urging the cessation of military support to Israel.

Previously, the State Department had concurred with Israel’s claim of using U.S.-supplied weaponry in accordance with international law despite significant Palestinian casualties. This stance has been met with criticism and concern from humanitarian groups and leaked memos from U.S. government agencies, pointing to violations of humanitarian law by Israel.

Advocates for Palestine are concerned that the Biden administration’s reluctance to halt arms shipments, as potentially required by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and Leahy Laws, may pave the way for future U.S. administrations to overlook legal obligations.

Matt Duss of the Center for International Policy commented on social media, criticizing the Biden administration’s decision as predictable and legally questionable. Duss expressed concern that this sets a precedent for future administrations to similarly disregard legal norms.