US Says Israel's Use of Its Weapons Likely Breached International Law

• A State Department report to Congress released on Friday has assessed that Israel may have violated international humanitarian and human rights law in Gaza using US-supplied weapons. reuters.com
• However, the report added that Israel hasn't shared sufficient information to confirm if US weapons were used in a manner "inconsistent" with its international law obligations. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• Questioning the Israeli forces' efficacy in "mitigating civilian harm in its military operations," the report noted that the UN had described Israel's efforts to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza as "inconsistent, ineffective, and inadequate." BBC News
• The report, which refrained from attributing civilian deaths in Gaza to Israel, said that US intelligence services had found "no direct indication of Israel intentionally targeting civilians." Intercept (LR: 1 CP: 1)
• Though the UN has accused Israel of restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza, causing famine, the State Department report doesn't implicate Tel Aviv. It merely states that the aid delivered to the besieged enclave is insufficient. Middle East Eye
• The report comes after the Biden administration threatened to withhold individual shipments of weapons if Israel launches a major offensive into Rafah. Guardian (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Pro-Israel narrative:

• Israel has reached a decisive point in this conflict. If the nation gives in to international pressure, it will make clear to Israel's enemies that the country is weak and cannot stand up for itself. Such weakness will only encourage another attack like Oct. 7, which is simply unacceptable. Israel must continue to push into Rafah and win this war.
  JERUSALEM POST (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Pro-Palestine narrative:

• The most consistent obstacle in negotiating a cease-fire continues to be Netanyahu and his far-right government. If he wasn't pursuing salvaging his political career — and if the Biden administration wasn't so weak geopolitically — perhaps thousands of lives could have been saved. Either way, it's now up to Israel to ensure the end of this brutal war.
  MIDDLE EAST EYE

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 5% chance that Western sources will conclude before 2025 that Israel has used white phosphorus improperly, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)