US says Israel may have violated law using American weapons

In a highly anticipated report to Congress, the Biden administration said on Friday that  it found “credible and reliable” Israeli assurances that it will use US weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law, allowing for the further transfer of American arms amid Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.However, in the strongest such statement from Biden officials, the State Department report also said it was “reasonable” to assess that Israel has used US-supplied weapons since Hamas’s October 7 attack in instances that were “inconsistent” with its international humanitarian law obligations, but that it does not have complete information to verify Israeli forces did so.The Biden administration said on Friday that the use of US weapons by the Israeli military in Gaza may have violated international humanitarian law during its war against Hamas, in a strong-worded criticism of its ally. Amid this, Israel's war cabinet approved a "limited" expansion of the military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, local media reported.
The assessments were done in a 46-page unclassified US State Department report to Congress required under a new National Security Memorandum that President Joe Biden issued in early February, Reuters reported. The move could risk damaging US-Israel ties, with Washington repeatedly warning of repercussions in case Israel proceeded with a military offensive in Rafah. Meanwhile, On Friday, Israeli tanks captured the main road dividing Rafah's eastern and western sections days after the Jewish state captured the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing, a key point that millions of Palestinians depend on aid coming through trucks. Hamas on Friday said it would consult with other Palestinian militant factions on a strategy to draft a deal on a ceasefire and the release of hostages the group has held since the war began. Over 100 people are still believed to be held by Hamas.