Coalition of 90 lawyers worldwide call to reduce US military aid to Israel

20 of the signatories serve in the Biden administration

Read this article in:

A coalition of 90 lawyers worldwide, including 20 from the Biden administration, have signed a letter urging U.S. President Joe Biden to reduce the amount of military aid to Israel. The letter highlights concerns over Israel's pre-war actions in Gaza, asserting they violate both U.S. and international humanitarian law, according to a report by POLITICO.

The letter comes just weeks after U.S. Congress approved a $26 billion aid package for the region, including about $15 billion for military assistance to Israel and $2 billion for humanitarian efforts in Gaza. The aid package has faced significant criticism, particularly among Republicans who oppose sending additional aid to Ukraine.

The signatories, including attorneys from the State Department, previously identified five units of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) accused of human rights violations outside Gaza before Oct. 7. Attorneys from the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Labor and Energy also co-signed on the letter.

In the letter, the attorneys called for the Justice Department to investigate American citizens serving in the IDF to determine if they committed war crimes that could be prosecuted under U.S. law. Neither the Justice Department nor the White House have issued a response.

A Justice Department staff member, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, expressed concerns about the U.S. government's compliance with its own laws and policies, suggesting a significant level of dissent from within.

“This is a moment where the U.S. government is violating its own laws and policy. The administration may be seeing silence or only a handful of resignations, but they are really not aware of the magnitude of discontent and dissent among the rank and file,” the staff member said.

Lawyers from the United States and abroad signed the letter obtained by POLITICO and plan to forward it to Attorney General Merrick Garland and to general counsels across the administration. In the letter, the lawyers argue that Israel likely violated U.S. statutes, such as the Arms Export Control Act and Leahy Laws, and the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit disproportionate attacks on civilian populations.

The letter emphasizes that "the law is clear" and that it “aligned with the majority of Americans who believe the US should cease arms shipments to Israel until it stops its military operation in Gaza,” according to the U.S.-based news outlet POLITICO.

The letter is still being circulated for additional signatures and comes one week before the White House approaches the May 8 deadline to certify to Congress that Israel's use of American-supplied weaponry adheres to U.S. and international law.