A leaked internal memo from four U.S. State Department bureaus has cast doubt on the Israeli government's assurances of compliance with international law regarding the use of American weaponry in Gaza. The joint submission by the bureaus of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Population, Refugees, and Migration; Global Criminal Justice; and International Organization Affairs expresses serious concerns over non-compliance and highlights various instances of Israeli military actions that contravene international standards.

According to the leaked document, the Israeli military has repeatedly targeted civilian infrastructure, failed to investigate or hold accountable those responsible for atrocities, and has been involved in the alarming rate of killings of humanitarian workers and journalists. The memo also points to Israel's arbitrary rejection of humanitarian aid trucks, contributing to food shortages in the Gaza Strip.

The conclusion of the State Department bureaus aligns with the concerns raised by officials at the United States Agency for International Development. Human rights groups have been documenting Israel's violations and hindrance of aid for months, but the Biden administration has continued to approve weapons sales to the Israeli government, despite U.S. laws that forbid such transfers to countries violating human rights and obstructing humanitarian assistance.

Sarah Leah Whitson, the executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), emphasized the leaked confirmation that Israeli actions have impeded the transport and delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid, stating that it is a clear violation of U.S. laws requiring the suspension of military aid to Israel. Whitson called for real consequences and emphasized that suspending military aid should be the minimum action taken to prevent further complicity in Israeli abuses.

In March, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant provided written assurances to the Biden administration, asserting that the Israeli military's use of American weaponry adhered to international law. However, critics argue that it is evident that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza. The U.S. State Department is expected to present its final assessment of Israel's assurances to Congress in early May.

The leaked memo has emerged just days after Congress approved a foreign aid package, including $17 billion in unconditional military assistance for Israel. This decision has sparked concern among civil society groups, who warn that the approved military aid could deepen U.S. complicity in the ongoing assault on Gaza, which has already claimed thousands of lives and left millions at risk of starvation.

Various civil society groups have called on the administration and Congress to uphold U.S. law, policy, and international standards by withholding the transfer of additional lethal military aid to Israel. They argue that providing privileges and substantial military aid to Israel only heightens the risk of the country's involvement in grave international crimes.

As the debate around Israel's compliance with international law continues, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration and Congress will address the concerns raised by the leaked memo and the calls of civil society groups.