State Dept Finds Israel Has Committed "Hundreds" of Potential Violations That Would Render Arms Transfers Illegal

"A classified State Department report released just days before the current ceasefire agreement went into effect found that Israel has committed "many hundreds" of potential human rights violations in Gaza that would render it illegal to continue sending weapons to many Israeli military units, reporting finds. According to The Washington Post, officials say that the possible violations were reported by the State Department's watchdog, known as the Office of Inspector General."

"The report is notable as it's the first confirmation of the State Department's acknowledgement of the scale of Israel's violations in relation to the Leahy Laws. The Leahy Laws bar the U.S. from sending weapons to foreign military units credibly accused of human rights violations, and have been cited countless times by advocates for Palestinian rights calling for an arms embargo to Israel. The report includes incidents like Israel's bombing of a World Central Kitchen aid caravan in April 2024, which killed seven workers."

A classified State Department report identified many hundreds of potential human rights violations by Israel in Gaza that could render continued U.S. weapons transfers to numerous Israeli military units illegal under relevant U.S. law. The report was produced by the Office of Inspector General and is marked classified and not publicly available. Officials told The Washington Post that investigating the alleged violations would take multiple years. U.S. officials maintain a bespoke vetting process that gives preference to the Israeli military for potential violations. The findings connect directly to enforcement of the Leahy Laws and cite specific incidents, including the World Central Kitchen bombing and the killing of Omar Assad.

Read at Truthout