Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair, stated that aid to Israel should still be provided, even though the war conduct report released on Friday has raised concerns.
Cardin’s comments on providing military aid to Israel differ from those of the White House. President Biden had decided to hold back some bombs from being sent to the U.S. ally last week and earlier this week, stated that the U.S. would stop supplying weapons like artillery shells and bombs if the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) proceeds with a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah, a city in the south of the Gaza Strip where over a million people are seeking shelter. said Despite the difference in stance on weapons transfers, the Maryland senator acknowledged the “concerns” raised by the war conduct report released on Friday, which found it was “reasonable to assess” that Israel, during its war operation in Gaza, violated international humanitarian law.
Despite having a different stance on weapons transfers, the Maryland senator acknowledged the “concerns” the war conduct report released on Friday, which found it was “reasonable to assess” that Israel, in its war operation in Gaza, violated international humanitarian law. report The assessment did not definitively find the country breaching laws in the report, with U.S. officials acknowledging that it was “difficult to assess or reach conclusive findings on individual incidents.
The evaluation in the report did not decisively conclude that the country had violated laws, with U.S. officials recognizing that it was challenging to assess or reach definitive conclusions on individual incidents.
“While the most recent report regarding Israel under the NSM-20 has raised concerns, I agree with its assessment that Israel has not violated International Humanitarian Law and that military assistance to support Israel’s security remains in the U.S. interest and should continue,” Cardin said in a statement following the release of the report on Friday. statement “Despite the recent report raising concerns about Israel under the NSM-20, I align with its evaluation that Israel has not breached International Humanitarian Law and that providing military aid to ensure Israel’s security is still in the U.S. interest and should persist,” Cardin stated in a release following the report on Friday.
“In this regard, I differ with President Biden’s recent decision,” he said.
The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee expressed that Israel, which is currently carrying out new evacuations in Rafah and expanding its operation in the area, should not launch a full-scale incursion into the city in the south of Gaza without having a plan in place to safely evacuate civilians. ordering “Moving into Rafah without a credible plan to address the humanitarian situation is not the appropriate course of action,” Cardin stated. “Any operation must take all measures to protect civilian lives. There must be a safe passage for innocent civilians currently displaced inside Rafah.
He emphasized the importance of providing aid to Gazans without delays, as the population is already experiencing a humanitarian crisis.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring that aid reaches Gazans promptly, as the population is already facing a humanitarian crisis.
“They need to have the necessary food, water, shelter, medical care, and all other humanitarian provisions,” he said. “It is in the interest of Israel and the US that there be sustained, effective humanitarian assistance available to those at risk in Gaza, and it needs to be provided without delay or interruption.
