The US believes it is “likely” that Israel violated international law, but does not have sufficient evidence.

The report follows a memorandum signed by US President Joe Biden in February, in which, amid growing unease at home over the severity of the war in Gaza, he demanded that US arms recipients comply with international law: among other issues, as much as Avoiding as much as possible the impact of military operations on civilians and not hindering the entry of humanitarian aid are two issues that many in the US accuse Israel of failing to adhere to.

This report, in some ways, mirrors Biden’s position regarding Israel. The US president has tried to maintain a balance between demands from Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to reduce the Israeli military’s influence on civilians and to allow the entry of humanitarian aid on a larger scale. “Unwavering Support” For Israel which Biden had declared from the beginning of the war. It is a policy that, in turn, seeks to embrace the two souls of the Democratic Party: the leftist one that demands that he withdraw the ceasefire from Netanyahu or stop arms shipments to Israel and the liberal one that calls for assertiveness. Demands partner’s cooperation.

These unequal positions are present in the report published this Friday, which seems to be written to please everyone and is unlikely to convince anyone. Its text assures that Israel “It has the knowledge, experience and tools to implement practices that reduce harm to civilians in its military operations”, But, at the same time, he condemned that “the consequences on the ground, including high levels of civilian casualties, raise substantial doubts about whether Israeli forces have used these equipment effectively.”

“It is reasonable to conclude that the weapons were provided by the US,” the document said. Has been used by Israel in a “disproportionate” manner With international laws. However, the text adds, “It is difficult to reach conclusive revelations about specific events”,

The report attributes the inability to find definitive evidence to the difficulties in finding that information because of the difficulties in investigating it inside Gaza, because of Hamas’ strategy of operating from areas populated by civilians, and because of Israel’s lack of cooperation in providing information. Justifies.

In a contradictory tone to the report, the text states that it is “likely” that US weapons were used. “Inform them that you have concerns about Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.” With assurances given by Israel that it would use American weapons It is not a violation that the laws are “reliable and reliable”

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The outcome of this vague report is convenient for the Biden administration: It attacks Israel’s military practices but does not require it to cut off sending military aid to its partner. Its text also serves to reaffirm the US position regarding Israel on several occasions “You have the right to defend yourself” after Hamas attack. On 7th October. and accusing the Palestinian terrorist group of exploiting “civilian infrastructure for military operations” and “using civilian infrastructure as human shields”, two strategies that make it more difficult to determine whether Israel is violating international law. Does.

The report, which the State Department was required to submit within a memo approved by Biden, was published on Friday afternoon, a time when it comes to something going unnoticed. But there was no dearth of criticism from all political sides. Democratic Senator Chis Van Hollen, who promoted the legislation that would force Biden to request such a report, condemned the text as designed so that nothing would change. “They don’t want to take any action to hold the Netanyahu government responsible for what’s happening.”, he assured the press. ,If this conduct complies with international standards»“God help us,” he said of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Republican Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, weighed in on that report. “It has no other purpose than to provide political security to the President from his bases”, and he called the document “Completely redundant and unnecessary, it only contributes to politically motivated anti-Israel views”,

The report has also angered humanitarian organizations, particularly in reference to the US “not concluding that the Government of Israel is restricting or restricting the transportation or distribution of US humanitarian aid.” This is despite the humanitarian crisis being experienced in the Strip and incidents of attacks on humanitarian workers, such as that suffered by World Central Kitchen, an organization led by Spanish chef José Andrés.

Oxfam America president Abby Maxman responded in a statement, saying, “It is clear that Israel is violating international law and obstructing the entry of aid into Gaza.” “By turning a blind eye, the administration is allowing Israel to continue doing this without any consequences.”

The State Department report is independent of the latest positions taken by Biden regarding Israel’s management of the war, including strong disagreement over an impending ground operation in the city of Rafah, south of Gaza. This week, Biden threatened Netanyahu with suspending offensive arms shipments if Israel moved to attack Rafah, drawing angry criticism from the Republican opposition and liberal sectors of the Democratic Party.