Washington criticizes Israel over the use of American weapons in Gaza, but without stopping sending them to this country, reported the world agencies quoted by BTA.
Criticisms were made in a report by the US State Department. It states that it is reasonable to consider that Israel has used weapons inconsistent with international humanitarian law and therefore with US law, but the US has not been able to reach any definitive conclusions at this stage.
The release of this report was delayed by several days because of the debates in the State Department. The document was released after US President Joe Biden publicly threatened to cut off certain types of weapons to Israel if Israel launched a major offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which the US opposes.
Biden personally ordered the State Department in late February to investigate whether the use of weapons by countries engaged in active conflict and benefiting from American military aid, including Israel, complies with the provisions of American law.
This assessment differs from the US decision last week to suspend a shipment of ammunition and bombs destined for Israel.
"The nature of the conflict in Gaza makes it difficult to assess or draw conclusions based on individual incidents," said the State Department report, which was submitted to Congress.
"However, given Israel's significant reliance on US-made defense assets, it is reasonable to believe that these defense assets have been used by Israeli security forces since October 7 in duty-inconsistent cases of this country in terms of international humanitarian law," the document says.
But despite some serious concerns, the countries receiving US military aid have given sufficiently credible assurances to allow continued arms deliveries, the report said, referring broadly to countries receiving US military aid.< /p>
Washington is watching with concern the Israeli operation in Rafah, but does not think it is a big one, reported the world agencies quoted by BTA, citing John Kirby, the spokesman of the National Security Council at the White House.
"I wouldn't say what we've seen in the last 24 hours amounts to a large-scale invasion or a significant ground operation,'' Kirby said.
Kirby also said that the US believes it is still possible to reach a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, while “Hamas” and Israel left the talks being held in Cairo without reaching an agreement on the subject.
"We still believe that differences can be resolved, but it will take authority, courage, the ability to compromise and the willingness to negotiate in good faith,” Kirby said. “We will not give up” he added.