Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant signed a letter on Thursday addressed to the Biden administration, affirming Israel’s commitment to using U.S. weapons in compliance with international law and permitting U.S.-supported humanitarian aid into Gaza, according to two Israeli and U.S. officials briefed on the matter, as reported by Axios.
The significance of this move lies in its context within a national security memorandum issued by President Biden last month. While the policy doesn’t specifically target Israel, it follows expressions of concern from some Democratic senators regarding Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Under the terms of the memorandum, Israel was asked to provide the signed assurances by mid-March. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is now tasked with certifying the credibility of Israel’s commitments by March 25. Failure to obtain certification could result in the suspension of U.S. weapons transfers to Israel.
The decision for Minister Gallant to sign the letter was approved by the Israeli war cabinet last Sunday. However, the actual signing took place on Thursday and the letter was subsequently delivered to the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, according to an Israeli official.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense declined to offer comment on the matter.
The national security memorandum, issued on February 8, stipulates that prior to receiving U.S. weapons, a recipient country must furnish “credible and reliable written assurances” of their adherence to international humanitarian law. Additionally, countries must commit to facilitating, rather than hindering, U.S.-supported humanitarian assistance efforts in conflict zones.
Behind the scenes, Israeli officials sought to include an additional letter from the Biden administration reaffirming U.S. commitments to Israel’s security and its right to self-defense, as well as the continuation of U.S. military assistance. However, U.S. officials indicated that such a request would necessitate lengthy consultations and negotiations, which could not be completed within the timeframe set by the memorandum.
Furthermore, U.S. officials emphasized the desire to keep the process technical and avoid politicizing negotiations that could lead to additional written assurances from Israel.
Looking ahead, a group of House Democrats recently raised concerns to President Biden about a potential Israeli incursion into Rafah, which they argued could contravene the national security memorandum. They highlighted the importance of protecting civilians and urged adherence to international law in any military actions.