Israel must comply with laws of war under US’ weapons assistance policy: State Dept

WASHINGTON - Israel is no exception to US policy that any country receiving its weapons must comply with the laws of war, the State Department said on Dec 11 after Washington sold about 14,000 tank shells to Israel without congressional review.

The Biden administration on Dec 8

used emergency authority under the Arms Export Control Act

to allow the US$106.5 million sale, the Pentagon said on Dec 9.

The United States expects every country receiving its military assistance to use it “in full compliance with international humanitarian law and the laws of war, and Israel is no exception,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told a news briefing on Dec 11.

He was asked if Washington has assessed whether Israel has complied with the Biden administration’s February 2023 Conventional Arms Transfers (CAP) policy. That requires the State Department to determine arms are unlikely to be used for genocide, crimes against humanity, breaches of the Geneva conventions or serious violations of international law.

Mr Miller said the State Department had not made such a determination and reiterated the US’ stance that Israel can do more in the Gaza conflict to minimise civilian harm.

When asked if the United States was collecting any information on whether any war crimes were committed, he said: “We are monitoring everything that happens in this conflict. We are engaged in conversations with the Israeli government.”

As the war intensified, how and where exactly the US weapons are used in the conflict has come under more scrutiny, even though US officials say there are no plans to put conditions on military aid to Israel or to consider withholding some of it.

The Gaza health ministry said 18,205 people had died in Gaza in just over two months of warfare. The death toll and desperate conditions for civilians in Gaza have sparked international calls for a humanitarian ceasefire. REUTERS