The State Department is divided over whether Israel is using American-provided weapons in accordance with international law ahead of a fast-approaching deadline next week for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to make a determination to Congress.

There is not unanimity about whether to accept Israel’s assurances about this as “credible and reliable,” a department official said. Israel was required to make those assurances to the US under a national security memorandum issued by President Joe Biden in February.

The memorandum requires all countries receiving US weapons to make assurances that they are using them “in a manner consistent with all applicable international and domestic law and policy, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”

Under that memorandum, Blinken must tell Congress by May 8 whether he has certified the assurances to be credible and reliable.

    • @tortillaPeanuts@lemmy.world
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      -18 months ago

      At least when it comes to bombs I believe that Israel is following international law. Selecting valid targets while making some calculation considering civilian casualties is a pretty low bar especially when your enemy is operating in civilian areas without wearing any uniforms. Prisons and individual soldiers are another matter but idk what US weapons are involved in that.