Dozens of US Democratic congressmen told the White House that there is ample evidence of violations of US law by Israel, expressed in limiting the flow of humanitarian shipments to the Gaza Strip, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
A letter to President Joe Biden, signed by 86 congressional Democrats from the House of Representatives, states that Israel's restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza "call into question" the country's assurances that it complies with the US Foreign Assistance Act. Specifically, it is a provision that requires recipients of American weapons to comply with international humanitarian law and provide free access for American aid.
In February, Biden issued a memorandum demanding the written assurances from Israel after Democratic congressmen began questioning whether the Israeli government was following international law in its military operations in Gaza.
Israel submitted its written assurances at the end of March.
In their letter to Biden, the Democratic congressmen said the Israeli government has resisted repeated US requests to open sufficient sea and land corridors for aid to Gaza. They cited reports that Israeli authorities had not allowed enough food to prevent starvation into the Palestinian enclave, that they had imposed "arbitrary restrictions" on humanitarian aid and that they have introduced an inspection system that impedes supplies.
"We expect the (US) government to ensure that Israel complies with existing law and take all possible steps to prevent a further humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza," the congressmen wrote.
By Wednesday, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken must report to Congress on whether he finds Israel's assurances that the use of American weapons is in accordance with international law credible.
Earlier this month, at least four State Department bureaus notified Blinken that they found Israel's assurances "neither credible nor credible." If Israel's assurances are called into question, Biden will have an opportunity to "correct" the situation through actions that range from requesting new assurances to halting US arms supplies, the memorandum states.