According to two US officials familiar with the matter, the United States has established a communication channel with Israel to address the concerns surrounding the recent incidents in Gaza. These incidents involve the loss of civilian lives and injuries caused by the Israeli military, as well as the targeting of civilian facilities.
Following a recent meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israel's war cabinet, concerns were raised about the frequent reports of Israeli strikes causing damage to humanitarian sites and leading to significant civilian casualties. As a result, the channel was established to address these concerns.
During the meeting, Blinken conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Minister Benny Gantz the importance of providing clarity regarding reports of strikes. He expressed the need for a consistent and trustworthy means of communication between the United States and Israel to address these concerns on a regular basis, according to a US official.
This initiative has not been previously disclosed, and US officials have requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive details surrounding it. In light of the growing concerns surrounding the Biden administration's handling of the situation, a new channel has emerged.
The development follows the extensive casualties among Palestinian civilians during Israel's campaign against Hamas, resulting in a significant loss of life and the displacement of millions, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry. The situation highlights the growing frustration of Washington towards Israel's inability to improve the conditions for the civilian population in Gaza.
Since mid-October, the aid that used to reach Gaza has been severely limited, leaving over 62,000 people without proper medical care. According to another US official, Washington has been actively discussing and addressing specific incidents of concern related to Israel's military campaign in Gaza through a recently active channel. The Israelis conduct an investigation and offer feedback to the Americans.
There have been cases where the Israelis have provided more details to clarify an incident, while in other cases, they acknowledged making an error without giving specific examples. According to one official, the United States has established a process to ensure accountability for Israel.
The course of action that Washington might take in response to the information it receives from Israel remains uncertain. When questioned about the channel, a spokesperson from the State Department chose not to directly comment on it. However, they emphasized that it is crucial for Israel to safeguard humanitarian infrastructure and take all necessary measures to minimize harm to civilians.
In light of the growing concerns surrounding the Biden administration's handling of the situation, a new channel has been launched. This development follows the extensive casualties among Palestinian civilians during Israel's campaign against Hamas, resulting in a tragic loss of over 25,700 lives, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry. Additionally, millions have been displaced as a result of these events.
This further highlights the frustration of Washington towards Israel's inability to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza. Since mid-October, the aid that used to reach Gaza has been significantly reduced, leaving over 62,000 people without proper medical care.
Washington has been actively discussing with the Israelis any specific incidents of concern that have arisen during their military campaign in Gaza, through a channel that has been active for the past few weeks.The Israelis conduct an investigation and offer feedback to the Americans. There have been cases where the Israelis have provided information that clarifies an incident, while in other instances, they have acknowledged their errors.
Gaza Civilian Deaths
The US has established a process to ensure accountability for Israel. The course of action that Washington might take in response to the information it receives from Israel remains uncertain. Officials informed Reuters that the channel operates through diplomats stationed at the US embassy in Jerusalem, the State Department's regional bureau dedicated to the Middle East, and David Satterfield, US President Joe Biden's special envoy for humanitarian issues in the region.
In a recent incident, the US reached out through a certain channel to gather information regarding an alleged attack by Israeli tanks on a UN compound in Gaza, which was providing shelter to displaced Palestinians. The incident was reported by the UN on Wednesday. According to officials, it remains unclear how Israel responded.
The Biden administration has refrained from directly criticizing Israel for the civilian death toll, despite acknowledging that a significant number of Palestinians have lost their lives in the conflict. US officials have also refrained from commenting on whether Washington is considering an investigation into whether Israel's attacks have violated international rules of war.
Per The National, Israel receives $3.8 billion in annual military assistance from the US. Historically, Washington has employed aid as a means to shape the actions of its allies. However, when it comes to Israel, this approach has been largely dismissed, leading to concerns that it fosters a perception of impunity for the country.
According to State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel, the loss of civilian lives is deeply saddening. However, he emphasized that this incident was not carried out by the United States, and therefore, it is the responsibility of the Israeli army to address any credible allegations of law or war violations.
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