Democratic U.S. Legislators Call for Investigations into Israeli Violations

SadaNews - Democratic lawmakers in the United States have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to conduct swift investigations after a confidential report issued by the Office of the Inspector General at the State Department, a federal oversight body, indicated that the Israeli army had committed "hundreds" of potential human rights violations against Palestinians in Gaza.

Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jack Reed prepared a letter, which was also signed by nine other members of the Senate, warning Rubio against delaying the examination of incidents of killing, torture, and abuse in Gaza, as this undermines laws that prohibit U.S. security assistance to foreign military units that have been reliably accused of committing such violations.

The letter stated: "Without effective enforcement mechanisms, these laws and policies become meaningless."

The signatories included Jeff Merkley, Elizabeth Warren, Edward Markey, Peter Welch, Brian Schatz, Tim Kaine, Patty Murray, and Tina Smith. The letter was also signed by independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who participates in Democratic Party meetings.

Referring to the secret report that found the accumulation of incidents involving Israeli military units might require years for the State Department to study fully, the lawmakers wrote: "In light of these findings, we urge you to act swiftly on the Inspector General's recommendations to address these matters in a timely manner; to ensure compliance with U.S. law."

Favoritism Towards Israel

Although former U.S. President Donald Trump and his special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, acknowledged the occurrence of civilian casualties and widespread atrocities in Gaza, the State Department has not yet announced the disqualification of any Israeli unit from receiving U.S. aid under the "Leahy Laws," which prohibit funding to foreign military units that have been reliably accused of committing human rights violations.

Among the notable incidents in Gaza, which are still awaiting a U.S. decision, are the killing of seven workers from "World Central Kitchen" in April 2024, and the deaths of over 100 Palestinians and injuries to 760 others who were gathered around aid trucks near the city of Gaza in February 2024.

The secret report explains the protocol for reviewing suspected human rights violations by foreign militaries and indicates that this process gives Israel an advantage over other countries facing similar accusations.

The senators stated that this process "requires more complicated consultations, allowing for prolonged reviews, possibly indefinitely." They asked Rubio if he needed more "resources" to review the accumulation of incidents.

The Washington Post quoted Charles Blaha, a former State Department official responsible for the office concerning the application of the "Leahy Laws," stating that lack of sufficient resources does not hinder accountability, clarifying that "what is lacking is the political will to confront Israel and consider the units ineligible."

Pressure from Conservatives

During former President Joe Biden's administration, similar accusations were directed by human rights advocates and critics within his Democratic Party.

Although the Democrats are the ones who sent the letter last Tuesday, the White House is also facing pressure from conservatives to reassess Washington's relationship with Israel.

Stephen Bannon, former Trump aide, and podcast host Tucker Carlson criticized the United States for providing $3.8 billion annually to Israel. They questioned how America benefits from its support for Israeli military operations in the West Bank and Gaza.

Carlson stated: "It is crucial to criticize and question our relationship with Israel, as it is insane and harms us. We gain nothing from it."

Polling institutions, including the Pew Research Center, have found that conservatives under the age of 50 are increasingly skeptical of Israel. The percentage of negative views toward Israel in this demographic rose from 35% to 50% over the past three years.