Blinken: U.S. review of Israeli actions continues
WASHINGTON − Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the U.S. is still collecting evidence and reviewing allegations that Israel violated U.S. policy and international humanitarian law in Gaza.
In a report released Friday evening, the State Department said that it is “reasonable to assess” that Israel used U.s.-made arms in ways that did not sufficiently mitigate civilian harm. But the department could not definitely conclude that any specific instance met the violation threshold, writing that a lack of U.S. government personnel on the ground and Hamas’ penchant for hiding behind civilians made it “difficult to assess or reach conclusive findings on individual incidents.”
Still, Blinken said Sunday on CBS, “it’s reasonable to assess that in a number of instances Israel has not acted in a manner that is consistent with international humanitarian law.”
The comments were Blinken’s first public remarks on the report, which examined the use of U.S. weapons in conflict zones such as Israel and Ukraine. Congress renewed aid for both countries in April.
But it is the assessment of Israel that has infuriated lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with Republicans and Democrats arguing that President Joe Biden is trying to have it both ways on U.S. support for Israel in its war against Hamas. Biden paused a shipment of weapons to Israel earlier last week that he said could be used by Israel to attack the densely populated city of Rafah in a manner that would cause significant civilian casualties.
On Sunday, congressional Republicans appeared to accuse Biden of undercutting Israel, particularly with his threat to withhold weapons if Israel launches a full-scale invasion of Rafah.
The Israelis should be able to “prosecute” their war on Hamas as “they see fit,” said Sen. J.D. Vance, R-ohio, one of the possible running mates for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Blinken said Sunday that Biden continues to back Israel’s ability to defend itself, but the U.S. has qualms with the slow pace of humanitarian assistance deliveries and Israel’s use of weapons in its war against Hamas.
Biden has not commented on the State Department’s report since its Friday release. His administration has vowed to continue providing Israel with defensive weapons.