Report: U.S. Intelligence Concluded Israeli Warnings of War Crimes in Gaza

SadaNews - The United States gathered intelligence last year indicating that legal advisors in the Israeli army warned of evidence that could support allegations regarding Israel committing war crimes in its war on Gaza, which relied on weapons supplied by the U.S. Five former U.S. officials stated that this previously undisclosed information was among the most astonishing intelligence reports presented to senior U.S. decision-makers during the war, highlighting doubts within the Israeli army about the legality of its methods, in stark contrast to Israel's public position defending its attacks. Two of the U.S. officials mentioned that this information was not widely circulated within the U.S. government until late in President Joe Biden's previous administration, when it was published more broadly ahead of a briefing in Congress in December 2024. This intelligence heightened concerns in Washington regarding Israel's behavior in a war that it claimed was necessary to eliminate Hamas. There were fears that Israel deliberately targeted civilians and humanitarian workers, a potential war crime that Israel has "denied." It is noteworthy that Israel is being pursued by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and genocide committed in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023, with many countries joining South Africa's complaint. The court, based in The Hague, is investigating genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression, and is pursuing legal action against the perpetrators, who are subjected to U.S. sanctions as a result. On October 18, the same court rejected for the second time an appeal made by Israel against the arrest warrants issued for its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Security Yoav Galant, on charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.