Amnesty International, a prominent human rights organization, is urging President Biden to take immediate action and suspend the transfer of weapons to Israel. This call to action comes in the middle of allegations that the Israeli military has been violating international law, using US-supplied weapons in ways that contradict US policy and law.
According to Amnesty, new research has revealed that American-made weapons have been used in serious violations of humanitarian and human rights law, resulting in civilian casualties and human rights abuses.
The organization’s national director for government relations, Amanda Klasing, expressed shock and disappointment that the Biden administration continues to deny Israel’s violations despite mounting evidence to the contrary.
Amnesty International (Credits: Vanguard News)
“It is shocking that the Biden administration continues to hold that the government of Israel is not violating international humanitarian law with US-provided weapons when our research shows otherwise and international law experts disagree,” Klasing said in a statement.
Amnesty is demanding that President Biden take responsibility and end US complicity in Israel’s violations of international law. The organization is calling for an immediate suspension of weapon transfers to Israel, citing the need to prevent further harm and protect civilian lives.
Evidence of White Phosphorus Use Uncovered by Organization
The call to action comes as the White House faces a May 8 deadline to certify to Congress that US-provided weapons are being used in compliance with international law. However, Amnesty’s research suggests that this is not the case, and that US weapons have been used in several instances to violate international law.
For example, Amnesty found that Israel used US-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions bombs in an attack in October that killed 43 civilians, mostly children and women, in Gaza.
The organization also documented the use of white phosphorus, a flammable chemical that must be used with caution in warfare, in southern Lebanon. Additionally, Amnesty found that Israel conducted four strikes in Gaza between December and January that resulted in the deaths of 95 civilians, around half of whom were children.
Amnesty’s report also highlights Israel’s failure to take necessary precautions to protect civilian lives, including rushed evacuation notices and indiscriminate strikes. The organization also alleges that the Israeli military has been conducting inhumane treatment of prisoners and restricting humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Joe Biden (Credits: The New York Times)
The situation in Gaza has been dire, with over 34,000 Palestinians killed since Israel began its war against the militant group Hamas in retaliation for an October 7 attack that killed over 1,100 people.
Despite international pressure calling for restraint, including from President Biden, Israel has continued its military campaign, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has only worsened.
In a recent development, the International Criminal Court has reportedly begun considering filing arrest warrants for top officials in Israel and among leaders in Hamas related to the ongoing war. This move has added to the complexity of the situation and highlighted the need for urgent action to address the violations of international law.
