Biden admin flooded with reports that US weapons killed Gazan children

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Washington Post
30 Oct 2024 15:51

The Biden administration has received at least 500 reports from government officials, human rights organizations, and more, showcasing proof that US weapons were used against children in Gaza.

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US President Joe Biden is greeted by Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport, Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv, 'Israel'. (AP)

The Biden administration received almost 500 reports proving that the Israeli occupation used US-supplied munitions and weapons to carry out attacks that killed Palestinian civilians in Gaza. However, the US government still has not taken any action regarding the matter, The Washington Post reported.

Citing sources informed on the matter, WP stated that the United States failed to comply with the policies it set, dictating the launch of investigations to probe possible US and international law violations.

The reports were provided by the US government itself, international aid organizations, nonprofits, media reports, and eyewitnesses, and included footage and documentation of US bomb fragments where children were killed in Israeli attacks.

However, despite the State Department’s internal Civilian Harm Incident Response Guidance, which directs officials to complete investigations and suggest actions within two months of starting the probe, no single case has reached the "action" stage, according to current and former officials speaking to The Washington Post.

They further stated that more than two-thirds of the cases remain unresolved, with many awaiting responses from the Israeli government, which the State Department consults to verify the circumstances of each case.

Current and former US officials characterized the process that appears thorough and methodical in theory but has become practically ineffective, as senior leaders at the State Department largely overlook non-Israeli sources and are reluctant to approve action plans.

States aiding 'Israel' may be complicit: UN experts

Last week, UN experts warned that countries who allow "Israel's unlawful occupation" of the Palestinian territories and support it despite warnings of war crimes and possibly "genocide" in Gaza should be considered "complicit".

"Israel's internationally wrongful acts give rise to state responsibility, not only for Israel, but for all states," Navi Pillay, chair of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry said on Friday.

The commission has issued a new legal position paper outlining specific steps necessary in response to the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) recent advisory judgment pronouncing "Israel's" occupation since 1967 as "unlawful". It also looks at the ramifications of last month's UN General Assembly resolution, which demanded that the occupation cease within one year.

Pillay cautioned against giving aid or assistance to the maintenance of the unlawful occupation, adding that this includes "financial, military and political aid or support."

The commission also emphasized that all states must adhere to their "obligations under the Genocide Convention" and implement the provisional measures mandated by the ICJ in the case initiated by South Africa, which accuses "Israel" of committing genocide in Gaza. It warned that "States may be complicit in failing to prevent genocide if they do not act in compliance with the court orders, and directly aid or assist in the commission of genocide."

Additionally, the commission highlighted the need for the UN to take stronger action to ensure "Israel" fulfills its obligations under international law, criticizing the Security Council for its inaction, largely due to the veto power held by one of its five permanent members, implicitly referring to the US.

The commission stated, "When peremptory norms of international law are violated, the permanent members of the Security Council should not be allowed to exercise their veto, as this is contrary to the obligation to uphold peremptory norms of international law."