Exclusive: US Establishes Channel with Israel to Address Civilian Casualties, Reports Reuters

By Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has established a communication channel with Israel to address concerns regarding incidents in Gaza that have led to civilian casualties and the targeting of civilian infrastructure, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

This channel was initiated following a meeting earlier this month between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israel’s war cabinet, where Blinken voiced alarm over the continuous reports of Israeli strikes hitting humanitarian sites and causing a high number of civilian deaths.

During the discussion, Blinken urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Minister Benny Gantz to provide clarity on these strikes and sought a "reliable channel" for the U.S. to regularly raise such issues. The initiative’s details have not been publicly reported previously, and the officials provided information on the condition of anonymity due to its sensitivity.

This initiative is a response to increasing pressure on the Biden administration regarding the significant impact of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, which has reportedly resulted in over 25,000 Palestinian deaths and displaced millions.

The channel also reflects U.S. concerns over Israel’s inability to alleviate the suffering of civilians in Gaza, who have faced severe shortages of aid and medical care since mid-October, with more than 62,000 people reportedly wounded.

Through this recently active channel, the U.S. raises "every specific incident of concern" related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Israeli officials are expected to investigate and provide feedback on these incidents. In some cases, Israel has offered additional context, while in others, they acknowledged mistakes, although specific incidents were not disclosed.

The United States set up this process to ensure accountability for Israeli actions, though it remains unclear what measures, if any, Washington might consider implementing based on the findings.

When asked about the channel, a State Department spokesperson did not comment directly but emphasized that the U.S. is stressing the need for Israel to protect humanitarian infrastructure and minimize civilian casualties. The spokesperson stated that any concerning incident reported will be addressed directly with the Israeli government to seek further information.

The channel operates through diplomats at the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem and involves the State Department’s regional bureau focused on the Middle East, as well as President Joe Biden’s special envoy for humanitarian issues in the region, David Satterfield.

Recently, this channel has been used to gather information regarding an reported attack by Israeli tanks on a United Nations compound in Gaza, which was sheltering displaced Palestinians. The response from Israel on this matter remains unclear.

While this effort marks the first formal demand from Washington for explanations regarding the high civilian death toll, it does not employ the same robust investigative mechanisms used in previous international contexts. For instance, the U.S. conducted an atrocity determination process in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which concluded that Russian forces committed war crimes. Similarly, the State Department in December 2023 identified war crimes committed by warring parties in Sudan.

Human rights advocates are urging the U.S. to take stronger actions to compel Israel to address humanitarian issues. Seth Binder from the Project on Middle East Democracy stated that the Biden administration should intensify its efforts beyond mere discussions and condition assistance on significant improvements and accountability for ongoing violations.

So far, the Biden administration has refrained from directly criticizing Israel regarding the civilian death toll, despite senior aides acknowledging that "far too many" Palestinians have lost their lives in the conflict.

U.S. officials have also remained silent on whether they are considering investigating potential violations of international war rules by Israel’s military actions.

The United States provides Israel with $3.8 billion in military assistance annually. Historically, Washington has utilized this aid to influence its allies’ actions, but it has largely refrained from applying this leverage in Israel’s case, which critics argue fosters a sense of impunity.

The State Department’s deputy spokesperson expressed that any civilian death is "heart-breaking," but emphasized that investigations into allegations of law or war violations are the responsibility of the Israeli army.

Israel initiated its military campaign against Hamas following a surprise attack by militants from Gaza on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of around 240 hostages.

International calls for a ceasefire to protect civilians have not succeeded, as Israel remains committed to dismantling Hamas and rescuing all hostages.