Biden Management Criticized for Continued Military support to Israel Amidst Gaza Crisis
Washington D.C. – As President Biden’s term concludes, mounting criticism focuses on his administration’s consistent provision of military aid to Israel throughout the Gaza conflict, despite concerns over potential violations of international law adn a worsening humanitarian crisis. Critics allege the administration repeatedly bypassed opportunities to enforce U.S. legislation requiring scrutiny of weapons transfers based on human rights considerations.
Throughout the conflict, lawmakers including Senators Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and Jeff Merkley, urged the Biden administration to fully enforce existing U.S. law regarding arms shipments to Israel,a call that went largely unheeded. The crux of the issue centers on Section 2 of the National Security Memorandum on Safeguards and Accountability, which mandates a review of whether recipient countries, like Israel, are violating international humanitarian law or obstructing U.S. humanitarian aid.
in May 2024, the State Department submitted a 46-page report to Congress addressing these concerns. Though, the report deliberately avoided a definitive conclusion regarding whether the Israeli military had violated international law while utilizing U.S. weapons or impeded aid delivery to Gaza. Had the administration reached either of those conclusions, it would have been legally obligated to suspend the majority of arms deliveries to Israel. Instead, the administration continued its support, allowing the conflict and the siege of gaza to persist.
Further pressure was applied in October 2024, when Secretary of State Antony Blinken and defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sent a letter to Israeli officials demanding “concrete measures” to ensure access to essential supplies for civilians in northern Gaza. The letter included a 30-day ultimatum, threatening potential suspension of military support if conditions did not improve. However, aid reaching Gaza actually decreased during that period, reaching its lowest level in eleven months, according to reports.
Despite the unmet conditions and widespread international condemnation, the Biden administration took no action and continued to supply Israel with weapons. President Biden consistently maintained a position of non-interference, shielding Israel from consequences at the United Nations and other international forums.
The administration’s actions reached a controversial point in late December, during Biden’s final weeks in office. the administration reportedly pressured the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET), a U.S.-funded organization, to retract a report warning of imminent famine in northern Gaza. This occurred even after Donald Trump had secured the presidency, removing potential domestic political repercussions for a shift in policy.
Critics argue this final act demonstrates a consistent pattern of prioritizing support for Israel over acknowledging and addressing the devastating humanitarian consequences of the conflict in Gaza, solidifying a legacy of complicity in what some describe as war crimes and a deliberate starvation policy.
