US Delays Submitting Report on Israeli Law Violations to Congress When Rafah Was Attacked

The US Government's stance on the Gaza War has sparked criticism from a number of US government officials and politicians.

AFP

Palestinian refugees leave Rafah, Gaza, Tuesday (7/5/2024).

WASHINGTON DC, WEDNESDAY — The United States refuses to describe Israel's attack on Rafah as invasion. Washington also delayed submitting a report on alleged violations of law by Tel Aviv in Gaza.

The Israeli military (IDF) has broadcast video of troops and tanks storming Rafah since Monday (6/5/2024) evening. However, US National Security Council Communications Coordinator John Kirby assessed that Israel had not launched a ground attack. ”The duration, scale and scope of this operation are limited. "The US will observe," he said, Tuesday (7/5/2024) afternoon in Washington DC or early Wednesday morning WIB.

Also read: In the Midst of the Gaza War, US Senator Threatens the International Criminal Court

US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller also stated the same thing. "We haven't seen the operation start. The military operation they launched last night was only targeting the Rafah gate," he said.

According to him, the refugee location was not the target of attacks. "We will continue to convey that we reject large-scale military operations," he said.

The US's opinion differs from many countries. "Indonesia strongly condemns Israel's military attack on the city of Rafah in Gaza and the occupation of Rafah on the Palestinian side. Any attempt to forcibly relocate or expel Palestinian citizens, including those from Rafah, is unacceptable because such actions constitute the peak of crimes against humanity,” said the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia.

The condemnation was also broadcast by the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the African Union. "Qatar strongly condemns the fact that Palestinian refugee families in Rafah have to move again because of Israel's military order for evacuation or death," Qatar said in a statement.

Also read: The Never-Ending Suffering of Palestinian Refugees

The Chair of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has called on the international community to stop the deadly escalation. Israel's actions in Rafah have caused the death of civilians and various damages.

Postpone report

The US State Department's report on alleged violations of US and international law by Israel has been canceled from being presented to Congress this Wednesday. Several expert staff members in the US House of Representatives and Senate have stated that the State Department has been working on the report for months.

AFP

Palestinian refugees leave Rafah, Gaza, Tuesday (7/5/2024).

The point of the report is to answer the question of whether Israel violated US law or international law in the Gaza War. If there are violations, the US must stop military aid to Israel.

According to Miller, the report is not yet complete. "We are trying our best to meet the deadline," he said, saying the deadline was not an obligation.

Also read: Israel asks humanitarian organizations to leave Rafah

Last week, 57 members of the Democratic caucus in the US House of Representatives urged US President Joe Biden to delay some of the military aid to Israel. The delay is intended to pressure Israel not to attack Rafah.

On a different occasion, 88 members of the US Democratic faction in the DPR requested Biden to temporarily stop some of the defense assistance for Israel. This suspension is to pressure Israel to increase the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza. "Many people are monitoring," said former US Deplu official Annelle Sheline.

AFP

Palestinian refugees leave Rafah with their belongings to safer areas in the southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday (7/5/2024).

The attitude of the US Government regarding the Gaza War has drawn criticism from several government officials and politicians. Some officials of the US Department of State, such as Josh Paul and Hala Rharrit, have decided to quit from the department. "We have lost our moral foundation," said Rharrit about the US bias towards Israel.

He sees that the blind support of the US to Israel weakens the US's global position. The US has lost its moral ground to encourage the international community to abide by rules and laws. (AP/REUTERS)