Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump says he has made his decision on Venezuela, but cannot disclose it yet.
Trump says US will conduct nuclear weapons tests like other countries.
Trump to take legal action against BBC in coming days after it altered his speech.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: The Colombian Air Force has received 17 new Gripen air superiority aircraft as a deterrent and in pursuit of peace.
Maduro: I say to the people of the United States: Humanity is already suffering enough from the pain caused by the genocide in Gaza.
Maduro: Do they want another Gaza in South America?
Maduro: Peace and international law will prevail in Venezuela, and our people will know how to secure their stability and their right to exist with full sovereignty.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro: The people of the United States must play a heroic role at this moment to stop what could become a tragedy for our entire American continent.
International Network in Defense of Humanity: Let us defend respect for international law and the right of peoples to self-determination and the preservation of Latin America.
International Network in Defense of Humanity: Let us support the Venezuelan people in their legitimate right to prepare to resist military aggression.

Internal US memo suggests 'Israel' violating int'l law: Reuters

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Reuters
  • 27 Apr 2024 23:54
  • 6 Shares
5 Min Read

According to Reuters, a combined statement from four bureaus - Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Population, Refugees, and Migration; Global Criminal Justice, and International Organization Affairs - expressed "serious concern" over "Israel's" violations of international humanitarian law in the war on Gaza.

  • x
  • Palestinian health workers dig for bodies buried at Nasser Hospital compound in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on April 21, 2024 (AFP)
    Palestinian health workers dig for bodies buried in mass graves at Nasser Hospital compound in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on April 21, 2024 (AFP)

According to an internal State Department note acquired by Reuters, some top US officials have warned Secretary of State Antony Blinken that they do not find "credible or reliable" Israel's assurances that it is deploying US-supplied weaponry in compliance with international humanitarian law.

Under a National Security Memorandum (NSM) issued by President Joe Biden in February, Blinken must report to Congress by May 8 on whether he believes "Israel's" assurances that its use of US weaponry does not violate US or international law.

By March 24, at least seven State Department bureaus had submitted contributions to an early "options memo" to Blinken. Parts of the document that had not been previously publicized were classified.

According to Reuters, a combined statement from four bureaus - Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Population, Refugees, and Migration; Global Criminal Justice, and International Organization Affairs - expressed "serious concern" over "Israel's" violations of international humanitarian law in the war on Gaza.

All 4 agencies concluded that "Israel's" promises were "neither credible nor reliable," citing 8 examples of activities the diplomats say raise "serious questions" concerning violations of international law.

Included were repeated strikes on civilian infrastructure and protected areas, "unconscionably high levels of civilian harm to military advantage"; barely investigating violations or holding those responsible for significant civilian harm accountable; and "killing humanitarian workers and journalists at an unprecedented rate."

Also cited were 11 occurrences of the IOF "Arbitrarily restricting humanitarian aid," like denying whole trucks and "Artificial" inspection limitations in addition to targeting humanitarian sites. 

See this: 'Israel's' obliteration of infrastructure and residential areas in the Gaza Strip

One submission from the Bureau of Political and Military Affairs, involved with US military aid to "Israel", warned Blinken that halting US weapons would allegedly encourage "provocations" from Iran, according to the bureau's proposal, highlighting the department's internal conflict as it prepares to report to Congress.

The submission did not specifically address "Israel's" guarantees and according to a US official, the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism and US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew deemed "Israel's" assurances trustworthy and dependable.

USAID also contributed to the memo explaining that "The killing of nearly 32,000 people, of which the GOI (Government of Israel) itself assesses roughly two-thirds are civilian, may well amount to a violation of the international humanitarian law requirement."

Related News

'More than just a game': Man City manager on Catalonia-Palestine match

Russia says its Gaza proposal does not conflict with US'

Speaking to the press on April 2, a White House spokesperson John Kirby said that the United States had looked into several actions by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza "in the past" and had not found "any incidents where the Israelis have violated international humanitarian law."

US seeks Israeli assurances on arms aid: US State Dept. to Al Mayadeen

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the US National Security Council told Al Mayadeen in February that the National Security Memorandum on Safeguards and Accountability regarding military equipment and services sent to others does not stipulate imposing new measures as far as military aid is concerned. Rather, it merely demands guarantees of compliance with existing controls.

He further claimed that the memorandum includes measures that have been applied to “Israel” for a long time and that it also applies to all the countries that the United States supplies with weapons, pursuant to American law.

The requirement for this assurance stems from a memorandum issued earlier this month by President Joe Biden, prompted by Democratic members of the US Senate. Many Democrats have voiced concerns regarding "Israel's" bombardments and aggression on Gaza, which have led to the deaths of almost 35,000 Palestinians and the displacement of others.

Palestinian testimonies show depth of Israeli atrocities: UN expert

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, stated this week that the Occupied Palestinian Territory is engulfed in a spiral of unrelenting violence, with stories relayed by Palestinians and other witnesses adding new depths to atrocities witnessed by the world since the war on Gaza began over 6 months ago.

Concluding a visit to Egypt and Jordan, Albanese expressed that the rate and speed of the spread of violence has confirmed that "no Palestinian is safe under Israel’s unfettered control."

"Israel" has yet again denied Albanese access to Gaza, forcing her to report on their plight from surrounding nations in what she believes is proof the situation is much worse than believed.

She reported that many of the victims she met had suffered catastrophic losses and injuries and had seen firsthand the scale of Israeli destruction of Gaza's health sector.

Patients who previously arrived in Egypt with explosive and war-related symptoms are now joined by those suffering from chronic ailments and/or hunger, particularly children, as a result of the intentional famine inflicted by "Israel".

“Those who have left Gaza come out fractured and wracked by ‘survivors’ guilt’ and severe trauma,” Albanese detailed.

“Just 50 kilometers away from the Gaza Strip, crucial, life-sustaining aid and goods, including water desalination equipment, first aid kits, oxygen cylinders, and portable toilets – paid for by taxpayers across the world – languish in warehouses, barred entry into Gaza on the pretext of use by combatants.”

The expert added that humanitarian measures put in place are “grossly inadequate to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe that Israel’s assault has created, as it ignores its obligations "to a degree that warrants a call for sanctions."

  • Israel
  • Gaza
  • Palestine
  • war on Gaza
  • Reuters

Most Read

Yemen busts CIA-Mossad-Saudi spy network operating from Saudi Arabia

Yemen busts CIA-Mossad-Saudi spy network operating from Saudi Arabia

  • Politics
  • 8 Nov 2025
US-backed ‘New Gaza’ plan draws Arab fury over 'partition' fears: FT

US-backed ‘New Gaza’ plan draws Arab fury over 'partition' fears: FT

  • Politics
  • 8 Nov 2025
The Western imperialists are not make-believe imperialists, but the real thing. All of their cruelty and uncaring of human life and dignity stand bare today for the entire world to see. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Imperialism and the war in Ukraine

  • Opinion
  • 10 Nov 2025
Exclusive: Al Mayadeen obtains IAEA report on Iran’s nuclear program

Exclusive: Al Mayadeen obtains IAEA report on Iran’s nuclear program

  • West Asia
  • 13 Nov 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the village of Teir Debba, southern Lebanon, Thursday, November 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli strikes escalate in South Lebanon despite ceasefire

Lebanon President Joseph Aoun arrives for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at the UN headquarters (AP)
Politics

Lebanon awaits Israeli reply through US mediation: President Aoun

'Israel' launches brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon
Politics

'Israel' renews aggression with brutal strikes on East, South Lebanon

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS