London: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is at risk of war crimes charges by US lawmakers when he attends a joint congressional hearing on July 24, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.
Netanyahu's visit “highlights the continued and significant US supply of weapons to Israel's military despite credible allegations of ongoing war crimes in Gaza,” HRW added.
Late last year, the Biden administration raised the threshold for arms exports to foreign countries in an apparent effort to reduce the potential for violations of international law.
Domestic law also requires Washington to conduct risk assessments before granting arms exports.
But while HRW and Oxfam warned in March that Israeli assurances to the US on legal requirements were “not credible,” the Biden administration reported to Congress in May that Tel Aviv was “in compliance” with the new US border and domestic laws.
HRW Executive Director Tirana Hasan said: “US officials are well aware of the growing evidence that Israeli forces in Gaza have committed war crimes with US weapons.
“US lawmakers should be seriously concerned about the liability risk of continuing to provide weapons and intelligence to Israel based on weak assurances that it is complying with the laws of war.”
HRW and Oxfam have filed a dossier with the US State Department highlighting Israel's numerous violations of international law in Gaza.
Israel Defense Forces have “illegally attacked residential buildings, medical facilities and aid workers, restricted medical evacuations and used starvation as a weapon of war,” HRW said.
“Israeli authorities have detained and mistreated thousands of Palestinians, with persistent reports of torture.
“In the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have killed over 500 Palestinians since October 7, settlers and soldiers have displaced entire Palestinian communities with the clear support of top Israeli officials and the effective occupation of Palestinian land.
HRW cited reports from CNN, National Public Radio, the New York Times and Agence France-Presse that Israeli forces used US weapons throughout this period.
Under international law, a state aiding another state or a non-state actor may engage in war crimes if prior knowledge of and contribution to the partner's intentions is found. Individuals can also be prosecuted under this directive.
HRW has called on the US and other arms suppliers to immediately suspend military aid to Israel.
By using its leverage with targeted sanctions, the Biden administration “could save lives,” the organization added.
