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 US says Israel may have breached international law with American weapons in Gaza

Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to the group's attack on southern Israel on 7 October, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 252 others were taken hostage. More than 34,900 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

The US has raised concerns that Israel may have used American-supplied weapons in violation of international humanitarian law during the Gaza conflict. In a report submitted to Congress, the State Department stated that it is "reasonable to assess" that Israel used US-supplied arms in ways that were "inconsistent" with its obligations. However, the report stopped short of definitively saying that Israel breached international law.

The report acknowledged that Israel faced an "extraordinary military challenge" in fighting Hamas in Gaza, but expressed concerns that the country's actions may have resulted in high levels of civilian casualties. It noted that while Israel has the knowledge and tools to mitigate civilian harm, the results on the ground raise questions about whether these practices are being used effectively.

The report also criticized Israel's efforts to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, stating that the country did not fully cooperate with US efforts to maximize aid delivery in the initial months of the conflict. However, it noted that this situation has since changed.

The release of the report comes days after US President Joe Biden publicly threatened to withhold certain weapons from Israel if it went ahead with an assault on Rafah, a stronghold of Hamas in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed these warnings, vowing that Israel will "stand alone" if necessary.

The conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant humanitarian crisis, with over 80,000 people fleeing Rafah since Monday. The UN has reported that Israeli tanks are massed close to built-up areas, and the situation remains volatile.

The US report is a rare rebuke of Israel's actions, and highlights the complexities of the conflict in Gaza. While it does not definitively say that Israel breached international law, it raises important questions about the country's use of US-supplied weapons and its efforts to mitigate civilian harm.