Sources: America Withheld Intelligence Information from Israel During Biden's Era

SadaNews - Six informed sources reported that U.S. intelligence officials temporarily suspended the sharing of some crucial information with Israel during the administration of former President Joe Biden due to concerns regarding the conduct of the war management in Gaza.

In the latter half of 2024, the United States cut off the live feed from an American drone over Gaza, which the Israeli government was using to track hostages and fighters of the "Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement" (Hamas). Five of the sources said that this suspension lasted for at least several days. Reuters also reported this.

Two sources mentioned that the U.S. also restricted how Israel could use certain intelligence information in its efforts to target critically important military sites in Gaza.

The two sources refused to specify when this decision was made. All sources requested anonymity when discussing U.S. intelligence information. This decision came amid growing concerns within the U.S. intelligence community regarding the number of civilians killed in Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Sources indicated that officials were worried about the mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners by the Israeli internal security service (Shin Bet).

Three of the sources said that officials also expressed concern over Israel's failure to provide sufficient guarantees of compliance with international law when using U.S. information.

Under U.S. law, intelligence agencies must obtain these guarantees before sharing information with any foreign country.

Two sources noted that the decision to withhold information within the intelligence community was limited and tactical, and that the Biden administration continued to pursue a policy of ongoing support to Israel through the sharing of intelligence and weapons.

Sources reported that officials sought to ensure that Israel used American intelligence information in accordance with international law.

One insider stated that intelligence officials are empowered to make some information-sharing decisions immediately without needing an order from the White House. Another informed source noted that any requests from Israel to change its use of U.S. intelligence information would require new guarantees regarding how this information would be used.

Reuters was unable to determine the dates of these decisions or whether President Joe Biden was aware of them.

A spokesperson for Biden did not respond to a request for comment.

Intelligence sharing resumed after Israel provided guarantees that it would adhere to U.S. regulations.

Widespread concerns within the Biden administration regarding Israeli actions in Gaza are noted, but little is known about how the U.S. intelligence community manages its relations with its Israeli counterpart.

The Reuters report underscores the extent of concern among intelligence officials regarding how Israel uses U.S. intelligence information.

The Israeli military media office reported that security cooperation remained ongoing between Israel and the United States throughout the war in Gaza, without directly addressing the incidents of intelligence information withholding.

The office wrote in an email, "Strategic intelligence cooperation continued throughout the duration of the war."

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister, which oversees Shin Bet, did not respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond to requests for comment.

Larry Pfeiffer, a former senior official in the National Security Council and the CIA, stated that it is customary for the U.S. to request guarantees from those receiving its intelligence that any information received will not be used to violate human rights "in any form."

However, experts said that withholding operational intelligence from a key ally, especially during a conflict, is unusual and indicates tensions between the two countries.

In Israel's case, this step is also politically sensitive given the long-standing relationships between U.S. and Israeli intelligence and the strong support Israel has received from both the Republican and Democratic parties following Hamas's attack on it on October 7, 2023, which ignited the conflict.

Daniel Hoffman, a former CIA covert operations chief in the Middle East, said, "Sharing intelligence information is sacred, especially with a close ally in a volatile region."