NonilexMar 21, 2024

#UnitedStates to review #Israeli assurances it is not violating #InternationalLaw

#Israel has been accused of violating the #LawsOfWar in #Gaza. Now it has to prove innocence to the #StateDept, at the risk of losing critical #US arms supplies.

State received Israel’s required written assurances, ahead of a Sun deadline, that its use of US-supplied defense equipment does not violate #InternationalHumanitarianLaw or US #HumanRights #law….

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/03/20/israel-gaza-weapons-international-law/

U.S. to review Israeli assurances it is not violating international law

Israel has been accused of violating the laws of war in Gaza. Now it has to prove innocence to the State Department, at the risk of losing critical U.S. arms supplies.

The Washington Post
Show threadNonilex

The #StateDept now has until early May to formally assess whether those assurances are “credible & reliable” & — under a #NationalSecurity memorandum issued by #POTUS Biden in Feb — report to #Congress. If #Israel’s pledges are found wanting, #Biden has the option at any point of #suspending any further #UnitedStates #arms transfers.

#LawsOfWar #InternationalHumanitarianLaw #HumanRights #Law #Gaza #Hamas #war #HumanitarianCrisis #MiddleEast #GlobalSecurity #geopolitics #ForeignPolicy

Mar 21, 2024 at 12:45amWeb
Show threadNonilexMar 21, 2024

The delivery last Fri of the assurance letter signed by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant comes as #Israel & the Biden admin are locked in a contentious debate over Israel’s plan for a major military offensive in the southern #Gaza city of #Rafah. Biden has warned that the operation risks a #humanitarian catastrophe & called it a “mistake,” acc/to #NationalSecurity adviser #JakeSullivan.

A team of snr Israeli ofcls is due in DC early next week, at Biden’s request, to discuss the ongoing #offensive.

Show threadNonilexMar 21, 2024

#Netanyahu has said that the #IDF are developing a plan to *evacuate* #civilians from #Rafah, although the #UnitedNations — by far the largest distributor of #aid in #Gaza — has said that nowhere is safe & that it will not be party to #ForcedRelocation, itself a violation of #InternationalLaw.

#LawsOfWar #InternationalHumanitarianLaw #HumanitarianLaw #HumanRights #Law #war #HumanitarianCrisis #Palestinians #geopolitics #ForeignPolicy

Show threadNonilexMar 21, 2024

The #NationalSecurity memorandum signed by #POTUS #Biden on Feb 8 was a response to rising concerns about Israel’s conduct of the #war. It repeated many of the arms transfer rules in place in #UnitedStates #Law & #InternationalLaw, but included NEW assessment, transparency & reporting requirements.

While the memo applies to >70 countries receiving US weaponry, more restrictive reporting requirements are placed on 7 countries currently involved in armed conflict, incl’g both #Israel & #Ukraine.

Show threadNonilexMar 21, 2024

Each [of the 7] was given an initial 45 days for a snr ofcl to provide “credible & reliable written assurances” that it will use #UnitedStates defense material in accordance w/ #InternationalHumanitarianLaw & other laws.

The #LawOfWar imposes specific requirements on #targeting, protection of #civilians & treatment of #POWs.

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#Israel #Gaza #LawsOfWar #HumanRights #Law #war #HumanitarianCrisis #Palestinians #MiddleEast #GlobalSecurity #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #ForeignPolicy

Show threadNonilexMar 21, 2024

The memo also requires recipient countries to “facilitate & not arbitrarily deny, restrict or otherwise impede, directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of #UnitedStates #humanitarian assistance” or US-supported international efforts to provide #aid.

#Israel has repeatedly said it is not impeding aid & charged the #UnitedNations w/incompetence in distributing assistance & #Hamas w/ looting aid trucks. The #Biden admin has disputed those assertions.

#war #Gaza #Law #geopolitics

Show threadNonilexMar 21, 2024

Here is President #Biden’s Feb 8, 2024 #NationalSecurity Memorandum on #Safeguards & #Accountability With Respect to Transferred Defense Articles & Defense Services

#war #Israel #Hamas #Gaza #LawsOfWar #InternationalHumanitarianLaw #HumanRights #Law #Palestinians #geopolitics #ForeignPolicy
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/02/08/national-security-memorandum-on-safeguards-and-accountability-with-respect-to-transferred-defense-articles-and-defense-services/

National Security Memorandum on Safeguards and Accountability With Respect to Transferred Defense Articles and Defense Services | The White House

NATIONAL SECURITY MEMORANDUM/NSM-20 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE               THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE               THE ATTORNEY GENERAL               THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND                 BUDGET               THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE…

The White House
Show threadGrassroots JoeMar 21, 2024

@Nonilex

I look forward to Netanyahu's evacuation from the government of Israel.

Show threadRoryMar 21, 2024
@joeinwynnewood @Nonilex Me too! If Netanyahu wasn't spending so much time campaigning for himself, maybe Israel wouldn't have been invaded by a bunch of terrorists...
Show threadGrassroots JoeMar 21, 2024

@rlstone4dems @Nonilex

He has much to answer for to Israelis and the Jewish diaspora as well as Palestinians as do the leaders of Hamas who intentionally precipitated the destruction that has happened.

Show threadKim Spence-Jones 🇬🇧😷Mar 21, 2024
@Nonilex ‘early May’? US could send observers tomorrow to determine for themselves within days whether aid is being obstructed by the Israelis.
That they do not can only be deliberate delay by the Biden administration.
#Gaza