2024-05-04 00:57:37
US Democratic Party lawmakers 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 Gaza Strip. torn by war.
The letter, signed by 86 Democratic members of the House of Representatives, says Israel’s restrictions on aid “raise doubt” on its claims that it is complying with a provision of U.S. foreign aid law which requires recipients of U.S.-funded weapons to respect international humanitarian law and allow the free flow of U.S. aid.
In February, Biden issued a national security memorandum demanding the provision of written assurances following Democratic lawmakers began questioning Israel’s degree of compliance with international law in its operations in Gaza.
The lawmakers said the Israeli government had resisted repeated U.S. demands to open enough sea and land routes to deliver aid to Gaza, citing reports that it had not let in enough food to avoid starvation, and had imposed a system of inspections and “arbitrary restrictions” on aid that hampered supplies.
“We expect the administration to ensure that Israel complies with existing law and takes all possible measures to prevent further humanitarian disasters in Gaza,” the lawmakers wrote.
The memorandum Biden issued in February requires Secretary of State Antony Blinken to submit a report to Congress by Wednesday on whether there are credible assurances from Israel that its use of U.S. weapons is consistent with international law .
At least four State Department offices told Secretary Blinken last month that they found the Israeli claims “not credible and unreliable.”
If Israel’s guarantees are called into question, Biden will have the opportunity to “remedy” the situation with actions ranging from seeking new guarantees to suspending US arms transfers, according to the memo.
Israel denies violating international law and restricting aid in its war on Gaza, which erupted following an attack by Hamas, listed as a terrorist organization in the United States, on Israel on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of Gaza. more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli statistics.
More than 34,000 people were killed in the Israeli attack on Gaza, according to the Gaza Strip’s Ministry of Health.
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