“Whenever we provide military assistance to partners including Israel … we do make clear that that support must be used consistent with international law, to include the Law of War, and obligations related to protecting civilians,” Pentagon spokesperson Brig. “There are mechanisms in place to achieve what we need to achieve,” the lawmaker said, like the Leahy Law that prohibits assistance to countries committing human rights abuses. The House member added Democrats are preliminarily discussing measures to penalize Israel should it not change course, such as “actual enforcement of existing human rights vetting.” Experts say Israel’s tolerance for civilian casualties seems to be far higher than that of the United States.Ī House Democrat familiar with U.S.-Israeli conversations said the administration “has been pushing very hard in private on the Israelis to ease back” - particularly after the bombing of the refugee camp. 7 attack, per the Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry, nearly 4,000 of them children. More than 9,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel responded to Hamas’ Oct. Pentagon officials have asked the Israel Defense Forces specifically about the Israeli bombardment of the Jabalia Refugee Camp in northern Gaza on Tuesday, an Israeli official said, adding that Israel “puts a lot of effort into ensuring civilians are out of harm’s way.” “support for Israel’s right to defend itself remains solid.”

has asked questions of Israel about their goals and how to achieve them, and urged them to avoid harming civilians, the official stressed. asked for an explanation of the first on Jabalia,” said the official, adding that the conversation was in the context of “asking Israel to do more to avoid civilian casualties.”įrom the beginning of the conflict, the U.S.

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