Coalition comprising prominent press freedom, civil liberties, and human rights organizations has issued a robust demand to the Biden administration: release an upcoming report assessing whether U.S. military aid recipients, including Israel, are violating international humanitarian laws.
According to HuffPost, the coalition, which includes Amnesty International USA, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, and Reporters Without Borders, sent a letter to the White House on Tuesday, May 7, urging President Biden to fulfill his pledge of restoring “transparency and truth” to the government.
The report in question is mandated by National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20), which requires federal agencies to evaluate compliance with laws prohibiting violence against civilians by countries receiving U.S. military assistance.
“The public and the press have an especially strong interest in understanding how the U.S. has assessed the assurances provided under NSM-20 by all countries that receive U.S. defense articles, and particularly those in areas of armed conflict,” emphasized the coalition in their letter.
This demand comes amidst mounting pressure on the Biden administration regarding its stance on Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties.
Despite warnings from allies, including the U.S., against a potential ground invasion of Gaza, Israel has rebuffed recent ceasefire proposals, prompting concerns about the humanitarian impact of its operations.
Members of Congress have long sought assurances that Israel, a major recipient of U.S. military aid, is adhering to international and domestic laws in its Gaza operations. In response, President Biden issued NSM-20 in February, mandating a report to Congress on potential violations by aid recipients.
Although the initial deadline for the report was set for May 8th, its current status remains unclear. The White House has not definitively stated whether it will be made public, prompting the coalition’s demand for transparency.
As allegations of war crimes continue to mount against Israel’s government, lawmakers and humanitarian groups are increasingly concerned about the implications of U.S. military support for potential violations.
With the May 8th deadline approaching, all eyes are on President Biden to see if he will uphold his commitment to transparency by releasing the highly anticipated NSM-20 report. The decision could have far-reaching implications for the U.S.’s relationship with Israel and its military aid allocations amidst the escalating crisis in Gaza.
