Source: AP
A group of Palestinians in Gaza and their American relatives are suing the U.S. State Department, claiming the agency has created special exceptions that allow Israel to bypass a law restricting military aid over human rights violations. The lawsuit, backed by former State Department officials and architects of the 1997 Leahy Law, accuses the government of shielding Israel from consequences that other nations face under the law.
The Leahy Law prohibits U.S. military support to foreign units when there is credible evidence of human rights abuses. The plaintiffs argue that despite mounting civilian casualties in Gaza during the war with Hamas, the U.S. has continued to supply military assistance to Israel. They are asking the courts to enforce the law without bias, claiming that Israel’s alleged exemption undermines its intent.
Ahmed Moor, a Palestinian American from Philadelphia who lost relatives in the conflict, said, “It’s really a modest set of goals here: there’s a U.S. law. We’d like the federal government to adhere to U.S. law.”
The lawsuit outlines how Israel benefits from barriers that complicate enforcement, such as a special committee created to vet potential violations and requiring high-level State Department sign-offs before action is taken. It also claims Israel gets unique opportunities to avoid penalties by demonstrating corrective action, an allowance not typically afforded to other nations.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has denied giving Israel special treatment, but critics, including former State Department official Charles Blaha, argue that all decisions have favored continued military support for Israel, regardless of civilian harm.
This legal action comes amid broader frustration with the Biden administration's handling of military aid to Israel, estimated at $17.9 billion in the first year of the Gaza war. The conflict, sparked by Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 45,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The plaintiffs, supported by the nonprofit group Democracy for the Arab World Now, hope the courts will enforce the Leahy Law fairly, ensuring accountability for human rights violations.
