Blinken's report expected to criticize Israel but confirm it's using US weapons in line with international law

[Beastly Boy]

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to deliver a report to Congress this week that will criticize Israel but ultimately conclude that the Biden administration has accepted assurances from Jerusalem that the IDF is using American weapons in accordance with international law, Axios reports.

Citing three US officials, the news site says that Blinken’s report could be submitted as early as today.

The report reviewing the use of weapons by Israel and six other countries engaged in different armed conflicts, which will be released to the public, was originally due on May 8, but the State Department requested an extension. It is part of a new policy instituted by US President Joe Biden in February requiring foreign aid recipients to provide written assurances that they are using that aid in compliance with international law and not obstructing the provision of humanitarian aid.

While the order doesn’t place any tangible new conditions on foreign assistance, given that recipients have always been required to use the aid in a manner consistent with the laws of war, the White House has acknowledged that it was the result of pressure from progressive lawmakers who believe Israel might not be abiding by these terms.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/blinkens-report-expected-to-criticize-israel-but-confirm-its-using-us-weapons-in-line-with-international-law/

[ExciteBike66]

1. Does international law have a limit on killing kids?

Is the limit different if there might be tunnels near those kids?

[Beastly Boy]

2. I am assuming your questions are rhetorical, so I don't have to answer them.

But for your information, international law is clear on who is responsible for killing kids when there are, as in the case of Gaza, tunnels near those kids. And we are obviously not talking about subway tunnels.

[ExciteBike66]

3. You don't have to answer to anyone but yourself.

You support a group that is dropping bombs on kids. Your reasoning would excuse dropping a nuke on gaza, just to get the tunnels.

Morally, there is no justification for what Israel is doing. I mean, ukraine is being invaded by a far larger nation, and they are still not justified in bombing civilians.

[yagotme]

4. And you appear to support a group that fires missiles indiscriminately at civilians.

You support a group that is dropping bombs on kids.

For quite some time. Years, as a matter of fact.

[Coventina]

8. Not to mention a group that calls for eradication of Jews EVERYWHERE! n/t

[former9thward]

5. How would you have fought Japan and Germany in WW II?

No bombing allowed?

[Coventina]

6. I'll wait with you for an answer....

[PufPuf23]

7. Gaza is not equivalent to WWII. nt

[former9thward]

10. Easy answer.

But a failure in logic.

[Beastly Boy]

9. Well, I have to answer to those who make ridiculous accusations, don't I?

Accusations that constitute a violation of DU's terms of use, BTW. (Don't worry, I don't alert on principle, but be aware that others might).

No, I don't support a group that drops bombs on the kids. I defend a group against defamatory accusations, but I am not a fan of IDF's displays of incompetence and blind adherence to the woefully outdated military doctrine that guides them. My reasoning has no hint of what you are accusing me of. Morality and legality are different issues, but if you speak of morality, I don't see how Hamas' role in the deaths of the 30,000 Palestinian civilians being purposely used by them as human shields can so consistently escape your attention.