### U.S. State Department Faces Criticism Over Inaction on Alleged Israeli Misuse of American Weapons

The Biden administration is under scrutiny following reports that it has neglected to take action on nearly 500 complaints regarding Israel's use of U.S.-supplied weapons resulting in excessive civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. Sources familiar with the situation claim that some of the reviewed incidents likely constitute violations of both U.S. and international law. Despite these allegations, no investigations have reached the action stage, which raises concerns about compliance with internal policies mandating prompt investigations.

These reports, collected over the past year from various sources, including U.S. government agencies, international aid organizations, nonprofits, media, and eyewitnesses, often include photographic evidence of U.S.-made bomb fragments discovered at sites with significant civilian deaths. A significant majority of these cases remain unresolved, pending responses from the Israeli government. Critics argue that the U.S. reluctance to act on these reports highlights the administration's unwillingness to hold Israel accountable.

Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, recently confirmed that numerous incidents are under review, but no final determinations have been made. Based on the substantial civilian harm and destruction observed, Miller noted that it’s plausible Israel could have breached international law, although verifying such claims is complex and requires thorough fact-gathering and legal analysis.

On a recent occasion where an Israeli airstrike on an apartment building resulted in over 90 deaths, including 25 children, the State Department sought a full explanation from Israel, whose military acknowledged potential civilian harm. Yet, the continuing supply of U.S. military aid to Israel, amounting to $17.9 billion over the past year, has not been significantly curtailed, apart from one delayed shipment of heavy bombs.

Human rights advocates and some U.S. officials express frustration at the State Department's perceived bias in giving considerable weight to Israeli input over non-Israeli sources. This process has led to the dismissal of a quarter of the cases at initial review stages due to questions about credibility or apparent lack of U.S. weapons use.

Given Israel’s status as the top cumulative recipient of U.S. military aid since World War II, the ongoing situation has led to calls for the U.S. to reconsider its stance. Critics like William D. Hartung suggest that the preponderance of U.S. weaponry in Israel's arsenal almost guarantees violations of U.S. law, considering the extent of civilian casualties. Notably, cases involving American-made munitions were reported, such as the killing of a 6-year-old girl and her family and a July airstrike leaving at least 90 Palestinian casualties.

This ongoing issue has led to appeals for the U.S. to take a firmer stance. As Sarah Yager from Human Rights Watch points out, the extensive use of U.S. weapons by Israel and the severe impact on civilians calls for a decisive response from the United States.