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Rescuers assisted by heavy machinery work at the site of Israeli strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, in April. Credit: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
Rescuers assisted by heavy machinery work at the site of Israeli strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, in April. Credit: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
A group of 75 Democratic lawmakers urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to investigate whether Israel is breaking U.S. law, arguing that the Israeli military violated arms transfer agreements by using American-supplied weapons for the mass destruction of Lebanese civilian infrastructure rather than legitimate self-defense.
“The use of U.S. origin weapons in the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure is a violation of U.S. military assistance transfer agreements with the Israeli government,” wrote the lawmakers, led by Rep. Becca Baling. “The targeted, mass destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure does not constitute Israeli self-defense. If U.S.-origin arms are confirmed to be used in these unauthorized activities, we ask the Trump administration to enforce existing law and stop arms transfers being used in these operations until these violations cease.”
“We are troubled by the Israeli military’s practice of mass demolitions of civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon and targeting practices that kill Lebanese civilians,” the Members continued. “After the Israeli military invaded southern Lebanon and began an occupation of the territory, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans to raze all homes in southern border villages, ‘following the Rafah and Beit Hanoun model in Gaza,’ a reference to the Israeli military’s systematic destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure in Gaza. Since then, reporting and satellite imagery have confirmed widespread demolitions of civilian homes, buildings, and religious sites in southern Lebanon, including the use of bulldozers and controlled demolitions. The Israeli military has also demolished bridges, roads, water pipelines, and fuel stations in southern Lebanon.”
“Every government has a right and a responsibility to protect its citizens, and Israel has a right to defend itself,” they added. “However, this does not justify unrestrained Israeli military operations, especially those that violate the current ceasefire, destroy civilian infrastructure, and lead to the death of hundreds of civilians. All sides must fully abide by the ceasefire agreement.”