Title: US Accused of War Crimes in Gaza as American Weapons Kill Thousands
The United States is facing accusations of war crimes for its extensive use of American weapons by Israel, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians in Gaza. This controversial issue has sparked outrage and calls for accountability.
For years, the United States has managed to avoid charges of war crimes in various military conflicts, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and the use of American weapons in Yemen. Despite these allegations, the US has largely escaped legal repercussions.
In Yemen, the devastating eight-year civil war has been described as the world’s worst humanitarian disaster by the United Nations. The conflict has claimed the lives of over 100,000 mostly civilian Yemenis, with war crimes accusations targeted at a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both major recipients of American arms.
Now, as the killings of Palestinians in Gaza continue, the United States finds itself implicated in another war zone. However, the chances of the US being brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC) appear slim.
Sarah Leah Whitson, the executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), a non-profit organization advocating for democracy and human rights in the Middle East, stated that if American officials are indifferent to the atrocities committed against Palestinian civilians using US weapons, they may be held individually criminally liable for aiding Israel in these war crimes.
DAWN has reminded Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III that US law mandates the monitoring and assurance that weapons provided to Israel are not used to commit war crimes in Gaza. Failure to comply with these end-use monitoring requirements not only violates US laws but also exposes US officials to potential prosecution by the ICC for aiding and abetting war crimes.
Mouin Rabbani, Co-Editor of Jadaliyya, an independent ezine focusing on the Arab world, argues that the United States is knowingly violating international law and domestic legislation by supplying Israel with weapons used to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. Rabbani asserts that the US supports the systematic destruction of Gaza and mass killings of Palestinian civilians.
However, Rabbani points out that international law and domestic US legislation are selectively applied, with the US and its partners enjoying impunity for their actions, while their rivals and adversaries face prosecution. The ICC Prosecutor, Karim Khan, is cited as an example of this flawed system, zealously prosecuting official enemies while turning a blind eye to crimes committed by states supported by his government and its Western partners.
When asked about US weapons being used in the killings in Gaza, a spokesperson for the State Department, Matthew Miller, stated that American weapons cannot be deliberately used against civilians. Miller acknowledged that civilian deaths are tragic, but emphasized that the US expects Israel to conduct its operations in compliance with international law and minimize harm to civilians.
Israel has been the largest recipient of US military assistance since World War II, with over $158 billion in military aid provided over the past seven decades. Recent agreements have committed the US to provide $38 billion in military assistance to Israel between 2019 and 2028.
Palestinian journalist and author Dr. Ramzy Baroud contends that the US cannot claim ignorance about how their weapons and taxpayers’ money are being utilized in the Israeli war on Gaza. He argues that the US has become an active participant, responsible for the unprecedented war crimes occurring in Gaza, by sending massive arms shipments and even soldiers to Israel.
Baroud highlights the fingerprints of US weapons on every Palestinian killed in Gaza, calling for accountability from both Tel Aviv and Washington for these war crimes.
Amidst these revelations, a report from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza states that the death toll in Gaza since October 7 has risen to 4,651, with over 14,245 injured.
As accusations of war crimes continue to mount against the United States, pressure grows for a thorough investigation into the use of American weapons in Gaza and for those involved to be held accountable for the loss of civilian lives. The international community is watching closely to see if justice will be served and whether the US will be held to the same standards it expects from other nations.
