Washington, D.C. – Biden administration officials received intelligence in late 2024 indicating Israeli forces discussed using Palestinians as human shields in Gaza, yet the concerns raised inside government circles resulted in no action, according to new reporting. Reuters reported that U.S. intelligence captured Israeli officials discussing sending Palestinians into tunnels believed to be rigged with explosives, a practice that constitutes a war crime under international law. Officials said they did not know whether the individuals were civilians or captives.
The revelations were part of a broader pattern of internal briefings during the final weeks of President Biden’s term, warning of possible Israeli war crimes. Reuters previously reported that Israel’s own military lawyers said evidence existed to support war crimes charges related to Gaza operations — directly contradicting Israel’s public denials. These findings circulated among senior U.S. officials, contributing to heated internal debates over Israel’s conduct.
The Washington Post reported that the State Department’s watchdog identified “many hundreds” of potential Israeli human rights violations, though officials said full investigations could take years. Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken privately questioned whether Israel was committing ethnic cleansing, according to HuffPost.
Despite mounting intelligence, the administration approved record military aid to Israel and offered expansive diplomatic protection. Sen. Chris Van Hollen said the administration “looked the other way” as evidence accumulated. Analysts noted the stark contrast between officials’ private concerns and public statements defending Israel.
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