In a memorandum issued on Thursday night, US President Joe Biden announced a new executive order requiring foreign governments receiving military aid from the US to provide written assurances that they are abiding by international law. This move comes after President Biden acknowledged that Israel’s response in Gaza had gone “over the top.” Israel has received the most military aid from the US since 1950, making this order particularly significant.
Under the memorandum, foreign governments must provide “credible and reliable written assurances” that American weapons are being used in accordance with international law. Additionally, they must ensure the delivery of US humanitarian aid to civilian populations affected by conflicts. This information must be shared periodically with Congress and the US president. All 100 countries that receive US weapons have 180 days to sign the assurances, while those engaged in active conflicts, including Israel, have just 45 days to respond.
If any issues arise, the memorandum states that a plan must be established to rectify the situation, which may involve refreshing the assurances or suspending further transfers of defense articles or services. The objective of this order is to guarantee that countries receiving American weapons adhere to international humanitarian law and cooperate in the distribution of humanitarian assistance.
While the administration emphasizes that the order does not target any specific country, it follows concerns raised by Democratic lawmakers regarding Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and its compliance with international law. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a prominent advocate for ordering countries to follow international law when receiving military aid, has welcomed this move. He believes that it will provide President Biden with greater leverage to ensure that all recipients, including the Netanyahu government, adhere to international humanitarian law and improve cooperation in delivering humanitarian aid.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza was prompted by a Hamas attack on Israeli territory, which resulted in the deaths of 1,300 people and the hostage-taking of 250 individuals, according to Israeli officials. Since then, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 27,800 Palestinians and injured at least 67,000, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. Aerial footage of Gaza reveals that around half of the buildings in the besieged territory have been damaged or destroyed, displacing more than 1.7 million people, which accounts for over 80% of Gaza’s population.
Additionally, the flow of aid to Gaza’s civilian population has been severely restricted throughout the war, raising concerns of a famine. UN officials have repeatedly warned about the dire situation faced by many Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently announced plans to send Israeli troops into Rafah, a city bordering Egypt where 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge. However, the US has cautioned against a military offensive in Rafah without proper planning, emphasizing the need to consider the wellbeing of the refugees living there.
In response to these warnings, Mr. Netanyahu instructed the Israeli military to prepare a plan to evacuate the population of Rafah before any potential invasion. He called for a “double plan” that includes both the evacuation of civilians and a military operation to dismantle remaining Hamas militant units. This development adds further complexity to the already tense situation in Gaza.
This executive order by President Biden reflects a significant shift in the US approach to providing military aid and highlights the government’s commitment to upholding international law. By demanding written assurances and requiring accountability from foreign governments receiving American weapons, the US aims to ensure that its military aid is used lawfully and that humanitarian assistance reaches those in need. Time will tell how countries, particularly Israel, respond to this new requirement and how it will shape future US foreign policy.
US President Joe Biden Demands Assurances from Countries Receiving American Weapons
