The United States has established a channel with Israel to address concerns regarding incidents in Gaza that have resulted in civilian casualties and the targeting of civilian facilities, according to two US officials. The channel was created after a meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israel’s war cabinet, during which Blinken expressed worry about reports of Israeli strikes hitting humanitarian sites or causing significant civilian casualties. The officials, who requested anonymity, revealed the existence of this initiative, highlighting the mounting pressure on the Biden administration over the toll on Palestinian civilians during Israel’s campaign against Hamas.
The channel serves as a means for the United States to raise specific incidents of concern related to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Through this channel, Washington communicates with the Israelis, who then investigate and provide feedback to the Americans. In some cases, the Israelis have shared additional information shedding light on incidents, while in others, they have admitted making mistakes. The purpose of this process is to hold Israel accountable, although it remains unclear what action, if any, the United States will take based on the information it receives.
The channel operates through diplomats in the US embassy in Jerusalem, the State Department’s regional bureau focusing on the Middle East, and President Joe Biden’s Special Envoy for the region’s humanitarian issues, David Satterfield. Recently, the United States used the channel to seek details about an attack by Israeli tanks on a UN compound in Gaza housing displaced Palestinians. The response from Israel is still unknown.
This effort marks the first formal attempt by Washington to demand explanations from Israel regarding the high civilian death toll. However, it falls short of more robust tools used in the past by the United States to investigate allegations of large-scale civilian killings. For instance, the US conducted an atrocity determination process in 2022 to address Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, concluding that members of Russia’s forces had committed war crimes. In December 2023, the State Department used the same process to formally determine that warring parties in Sudan had committed war crimes.
Despite acknowledging that “far too many” Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, the Biden administration has refrained from directly criticizing Israel over the civilian death toll. US officials have also not indicated whether they are considering investigating whether Israel’s actions on the battlefield violated international rules of war. It is worth noting that the United States provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military assistance, but it has largely ruled out using this leverage to influence Israel’s behavior, which critics argue grants the country a sense of impunity.
State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel stated that while any civilian death is heartbreaking, it is not an American operation, and it is the responsibility of the Israeli army to investigate credible allegations of law or war violations. Israel launched its war against Hamas following a shock incursion into southern Israel by Gaza militants, resulting in 1,200 deaths and the seizure of approximately 240 hostages. Despite international appeals for a ceasefire to protect civilians, Israel has vowed to continue until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed.
In conclusion, the establishment of a channel between the United States and Israel demonstrates Washington’s concern over civilian casualties and the targeting of civilian facilities in Gaza. This initiative allows the United States to raise specific incidents of concern with Israel, who then investigates and provides feedback. While it falls short of more robust tools used in the past to investigate civilian killings, it represents an effort to hold Israel accountable. However, the response from the United States regarding any action based on the information received remains uncertain.