Uncovering Questionable Use of US Weapons in Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza
In a bombshell report released Tuesday, human rights organization Amnesty International has linked US-made weapons to airstrikes on Gaza that resulted in the deaths of 43 civilians, including 19 children and 14 women. The report, which cannot be independently verified, points to fragments of a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance system, a precision-guided munition, found in the debris of destroyed homes near Deir al-Balah in Gaza's center.
The Israeli Air Force describes JDAM as a "guided tailkit that converts unguided freefall bombs into precise, 'smart' weather-resistant munitions for inclement weather." Amnesty International's weapons experts and a "remote sensing analyst" examined satellite images, photos, and on-site debris to reach their conclusions.
Unsubstantiated Claims and Denials
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said in response that the report was "flawed, biased, and premature" based on "unfounded assumptions." The organization argues that the report "contradicts any understanding of military activities" and relies on "flawed assumptions to suggest a similarly flawed and biased narrative." The IDF added it "regrets any harm caused to civilians or civilian property as a result of its operations and reviews all its operations to learn and improve."
As for the U.S. government, State Department spokesman Matt Miller said, "We made it clear to Israeli leaders in our discussions that the protection of the civilian population in this conflict is of great concern to us. We expect Israel to only attack legitimate targets and comply with the laws of armed conflict."
Loaded Words and Accountability
Amnesty International's secretary-general, Agnès Callamard, accused the U.S. of arming Israel with weapons that lead to "mass killings of child-rich families." Callamard's words carry significant weight, as Israel, the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign aid since World War II, has received approximately $3 billion a year in military aid.
Amnesty International's report has sparked a contentious debate, with critics arguing that the organization is overstepping its bounds and making unsubstantiated claims. However, the evidence presented by Amnesty International is backed by other human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, which have also documented the use of U.S. weapons in apparent war crimes in Gaza.
U.S. Response and Accountability
The U.S. State Department is currently reviewing the report, but national security adviser Jake Sullivan stated that the U.S. does not have enough information to make definitive conclusions about particular incidents. This seems at odds with the mounting evidence and reports detailing the use of U.S.-made weapons in attacks on civilian targets.
Accountability for war crimes and human rights violations is a pressing issue. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations argue that states that continue to supply weapons to Israel may be held responsible for grave violations of international humanitarian law. The organization is calling on the U.S. and other governments to stop arming Israel, arguing that arms sales could contribute to serious violations of international humanitarian law or increase the risk of such violations.
The reliability of the evidence presented in the report is a topic of ongoing debate. However, it is clear that the use of U.S.-made weapons in attacks on civilian targets in Gaza is a contentious and highly charged issue. The allegations made by Amnesty International, while unsubstantiated, have sparked a significant debate about the role of the U.S. in providing military aid to Israel, and the importance of accountability for war crimes and human rights violations.
