U.S. government
Blinken: Investigate possible violations of international law by Israel
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “We must continue these investigations, just as Israel itself is doing.” photo
© Jake Bacon/FR36142 AP/dpa
Washington believes it is possible that Israel may have violated international law with weapons provided by the United States. The US Secretary of State asserts that the investigation has not been completed.
The US government wants to carry out further investigations after the publication of a report on possible violations of international law by Israel. “So we have a number of incidents that we continue to investigate to get the best possible assessment,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on US television on Sunday.
With regard to the use of US weapons in the Gaza war, there is concern about incidents “where, given the totality of the harm inflicted on children, women and men,” the assessment is justified In certain cases Israel acted in a manner that was inconsistent with international law. However, the military environment is “complex”, which is why no final assessment can be made.
US government: Israel may have violated international law
Blinken essentially repeated what the US State Department had previously sent in a report to the US Congress. It states that the US government believes it is possible that Israel may have violated international humanitarian law with weapons provided by the US in the Gaza Strip. Due to the situation in the war zone, it is difficult to evaluate individual incidents or make conclusive findings.
At the beginning of February, President Joe Biden demanded written assurances from foreign governments that military aid from the USA would not violate international law. Critics complained that the US government was now avoiding a clear verdict.
Blinken now emphasized that the Islamist Hamas is hiding behind civilians – for example in hospitals, schools, mosques or residential buildings. “This makes it very difficult, especially in the middle of a war, to determine exactly what happened and to draw definitive conclusions from a single incident.” There is a difference between “stated intent” and “result,” said Blinken, referring to Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. “We must continue these investigations, just as Israel itself is doing.”
Blinken made it clear that the US government continued to reject a major military operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The US government is therefore withholding deliveries of so-called heavy bombs to Israel. This is the only delivery that is being held back. Blinken said they are in “ongoing discussions with Israel” about this. This is about the effects that the use of these weapons could have in densely populated areas like Rafah.