State Department spokesman Vedant Patel stressed on Monday that the United States had not reached a conclusion on whether Israel may have violated international law in the Gaza Strip, following Friday’s critical report.
“This report makes clear that this is a very complex and convoluted battlefield, a very dense urban environment. “You’re also dealing with forces, in this case Hamas, that are bringing in civilians and civilian infrastructure and using civilians as human shields,” Patel told a news conference. “The IDF has taken steps to fulfill its international humanitarian law obligations for the protection of civilians in the current conflict.”
“We also make clear in our report that it is reasonable to assess that the defense provisions covered by the National Security Memorandum are being used by Israeli security forces in contravention of their obligations. But we also have no direct indication that Israel is intentionally targeting civilians,” he added. “There are certainly a number of active criminal investigations underway in Israel. and hundreds of other cases are under administrative review. Israel has taken and is taking steps to hold itself and its actions accountable.”
His remarks came after Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered an overdue national security memorandum to Congress on Friday stating that Israel’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Gaza violates international humanitarian law. He said it was likely, but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that with certainty regarding specific air strikes. . The critical report also said Israel faces an “extraordinary military challenge” as Hamas “deliberately implants itself among civilians to use them as human shields.” He pointed out that there must be.
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Vedant Patel, the State Department’s principal deputy spokesperson, on Monday defended the department’s critical national security assessment. (Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The report states that Hamas “deliberately used schools, hospitals, residences, and the facilities of international organizations for military purposes” and “built a vast network of tunnels beneath this civilian infrastructure to protect civilians.” “This is not to hide the leaders and fighters, but from where Hamas is operating.” Then start attacking. ” Hamas continues to hold more than 100 hostages in Gaza.
“Given the nature of Hamas’ track record of using civilians as human shields and coexisting with civilians, we cannot make a final judgment in relation to violations of international humanitarian law,” Patel said on Monday. Stated. “We know that there is a moral and strategic obligation to take all possible measures to minimize civilian casualties, and that the Israeli Defense Forces have the means and capabilities to carry them out. …But at the same time, it’s also true that this is a belligerent force that is using civilians as human shields.”So we haven’t been able to come to any final conclusions on this. ”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday issued a strong rebuke to Israel during the Jewish state’s operation in the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolfe)
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“We did not issue this memorandum because we believed that any country would inevitably violate these standards,” he added. “Instead, we wanted to be transparent about the standards we require countries to adhere to and provide a set period of assessment consistent with the National Security Memorandum.”
Blinken on Sunday delivered some of the Biden administration’s strongest public criticism yet of Israel’s actions in the Gaza war, saying that although Israeli tactics meant “a horrific loss of life of innocent civilians” , said it would not be able to neutralize Hamas’ leaders and fighters and could trigger a long war. Rebellion. Blinken said in two television interviews that the United States believes Israeli forces should “withdraw from Gaza,” but is also waiting for a credible plan from Israel for security and governance in the region after the war. He emphasized.
Blinken said the resurgence of Hamas in parts of the Gaza Strip and “violent actions” by Israeli forces in the southern city of Rafah risked placing the United States’ closest Middle East ally “responsible for an enduring insurgency.” He said there is.
Temporary tents of displaced Palestinians in a temporary camp along the coast near Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He said the United States had been working with Arab countries and others for weeks to develop a “credible plan for security, governance and reconstruction” for the Gaza Strip, but “we never saw it coming out of Israel.” There isn’t…we need to do that.” Blinken also said that as Israel moves deeper into the southern region of Rafah, the military operation “may have some initial success,” but that if it does not resolve “the issues that both countries want,” it will threaten the public. He also said there was a risk of causing “significant damage.” This will prevent Hamas from ruling Gaza again. ”
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More than 1 million Palestinians have flocked to Rafah seeking refuge as Israel’s offensive crosses the Gaza Strip. Israel said the city is also home to four battalions of Hamas fighters.
Blinken said Israel’s war response left the country with an “insurgency that could be filled with chaos and anarchy, with many armed Hamas remaining or, if they leave, a vacuum that could possibly be filled by Hamas.” We are on track to take over.” We’ve been talking to them about better ways to get lasting results and lasting security. ”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
