The American website Axios reported that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is expected to submit a report described as “extremely important” to Congress today, Friday, regarding Israel’s behavior in the Gaza Strip.
The news site quoted 3 American officials as saying that Blinken may submit to Congress today a highly critical report on Israel’s behavior in Gaza, but they indicated that the report does not reach the point of concluding that Israel violated the terms of the use of American weapons.
The officials said that the upcoming report is the most controversial in the US State Department since the attack of last October 7, and they indicated that it will describe the situation in strong terms and will mention that the State Department is investigating several incidents.
Axios also quoted officials as saying that the US State Department is reviewing the use of weapons in Israel and six other countries with armed conflicts, and if it is proven that a country has violated international humanitarian law or obstructed the delivery of US-supported humanitarian aid.
Not ready yet
Last Tuesday, Reuters reported that the administration of US President Joe Biden would miss a deadline scheduled for Wednesday to submit a report to Congress on whether Israel is violating international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip.
A national security memorandum issued by President Biden last February requested that the State Department submit a report to Congress on May 8 regarding the credibility of Israel’s assertions that its use of American weapons does not violate American or international law.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said last Tuesday in a press briefing that the report is not ready yet, but the ministry is working hard to complete it.