Internal Israeli Army Doubts over Legality of Gaza Methods Alarmed US Officials, Sources Say
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States gathered intelligence last year indicating that legal advisors within the Israeli army warned of potential evidence that could support allegations that Israel had committed war crimes during its military campaign in Gaza, which relied heavily on U.S.-supplied weapons.
According to five former U.S. officials, this previously undisclosed information was among the most “astonishing” intelligence reports presented to senior U.S. decision-makers during the conflict. The intelligence highlighted internal doubts within the Israeli military regarding the legality of its methods, a position that sharply contrasted with Israel’s public defense of its attacks.
The intelligence reportedly heightened concerns in Washington regarding Israel’s conduct in the war against Hamas. Specifically, there were fears that Israel may have deliberately targeted civilians and humanitarian workers, a potential war crime that Israel has consistently denied.
Two of the former officials noted that this intelligence was not broadly circulated within the U.S. government until late in President Joe Biden’s previous administration, when it was more widely published ahead of a briefing in Congress in December 2024.
The revelations come amid intense international scrutiny of Israel’s military operation. Israel is currently being pursued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and genocide committed in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023, with numerous countries joining South Africa’s formal complaint.
The ICC, based in The Hague, is actively investigating genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression, and is pursuing legal action against alleged perpetrators. The court, on October 18, rejected for the second time an appeal by Israel against the arrest warrants issued for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Security Yoav Galant on charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Perpetrators of ICC-investigated crimes are also subject to U.S. sanctions as a result of the legal proceedings.