(Washington, D.C.) Intelligence obtained by the U.S. last year revealed that Israeli officials discussed the possibility of Israeli soldiers sending Palestinian civilians into potentially explosive tunnels in the Gaza Strip.
International law prohibits the use of civilians as human shields in military operations. Former senior officials in the Biden administration believe this information corroborates allegations of Israeli war crimes. If Israel is found guilty of war crimes, the U.S. could face liability for supplying weapons to the Israel Defense Forces. This could also force the U.S. to cease sharing intelligence with Israel.
Two former U.S. officials familiar with the matter revealed that this intelligence, received in the final months of 2024, raised questions within the White House and intelligence community about the extent of the Israeli military's use of such tactics and whether they were acting under orders from military leaders.
However, lawyers for several government agencies determined in the weeks leading up to the Biden administration's departure that the evidence was insufficient to support war crimes charges against the Israeli military, allowing the U.S. to continue providing weapons and intelligence support.
Some former U.S. officials pointed out that the intelligence only described isolated incidents in Gaza and did not represent general Israeli practices or policies.
Further Reading
The Israeli government did not respond to inquiries regarding whether it had discussed the intelligence with the United States. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) statement indicated that the military "prohibits civilians from being used as human shields or coerced into participating in military operations in any way," and stated that the military and police criminal investigation department is investigating "suspected involvement of Palestinians in military missions."
Trump Sends Letter to Israeli President Urging Pardon for Netanyahu
According to the Israeli Presidential Palace, US President Donald Trump has sent a letter to Israeli President Herzog, urging a full pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption. The letter was received by the Presidential Palace on Wednesday (November 12).
Trump claims the case is politically motivated and baseless, but asserts his absolute respect for the Israeli judicial system.
Trump's move has sparked controversy. Opposition lawmakers have accused Netanyahu of using Trump to escape his legal predicament. Democratic Party leader Golan issued a statement saying that if Netanyahu cannot simultaneously govern the country and handle the trial, he should resign.
Retired law professor Raday, who has appeared before the Israeli Supreme Court, also criticized the move, saying, "This is extreme disrespect for the Israeli judicial system." She stated that there has only been one precedent for a pre-emptive pardon in Israeli history.
