The Washington Post reported that government watchdogs with jurisdiction over the State and Defense departments (The Pentagon) is preparing to publish the results of multiple investigations into the President's administration's provision of Joe Biden Israel With American weapons to help it in its military campaign in Gaza Strip.
The newspaper also quoted those regulatory authorities as saying that there are “several” other related investigations, which are either underway or planned.
The inspector general's upcoming reports, which have not yet been made public, come on the heels of complaints from within the U.S. government that the export of billions of dollars in weapons to Israel violates laws prohibiting the transfer of U.S. military aid to governments that have committed gross human rights abuses or obstructed the movement of humanitarian aid.
Acknowledgement and justification
The Biden administration has acknowledged that Israel may have used American weapons in its war on Gaza, in violation of International LawBut she says there is a justification for continuing to transfer weapons, which is to defend Israel, according to the newspaper.
For its part, Israel claims that the Palestinian losses are the fault of the Islamic Resistance Movement (agitation) which operates “close to civilian areas in the densely populated sector,” denying that aid delivery is restricted.
The inspector general's investigations, according to the newspaper, represent one of the last internal audits of an administration determined to increase arms shipments to Israel despite criticism of the occupying state's military tactics and the “huge” number of deaths in Gaza.
Others have restricted sales to Israel.
These investigations coincide with the move by some of Washington's closest allies – such as Britain andCanada andJapan andHolland andSpain andBelgium– To restrict the transfer of military equipment to Israel due to legal and political concerns that it could be used to commit war crimes.
The newspaper pointed out that The White House The Israeli embassy did not comment on this issue.
“The State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs will soon release the results of its inspection,” said Mark Hoffman, a spokesman for the State Department's Office of the Inspector General, which oversees policies and programs related to security assistance and military sales to Israel.
floating dock
The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon's oversight body is also about to publish the results of an investigation into the matter. Biden's Floating Dock On the coast of Gaza, which is an “obstructive” means of delivering aid to the Palestinian sector, and cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build, before it became inoperable “due to the high waves.”
She said the USAID inspector general recently released his own report on the pier, saying experts had warned in advance that rough seas could pose challenges, and that the project itself would detract from diplomatic efforts to secure more reliable overland routes for aid.
The inspectors general's offices disclosed to The Washington Post their plans to release the reports, while also acknowledging that they had received a letter from dozens of federal employees from more than 30 agencies accusing the watchdogs of failing to properly monitor Washington's gun policy.