US says international humanitarian law should be followed in Gaza

The United States stated its expectation that "all parties" in the Gaza Strip adhere to international humanitarian law, but declined to confirm whether it is assessing the Israeli military's killing of 15 people, including medical personnel, civil defense workers, and a United Nations official. The US stance underscores the complexities of the ongoing conflict and the challenges in assigning responsibility for civilian casualties.

When asked about these killings, US State Department spokesperson Tami Fitzwilliam-Bruce stated, "Everything that is happening in the Gaza Strip is because of Hamas." This statement highlights the US view that Hamas' actions are the root cause of the conflict and its consequences.

The UN humanitarian agency stated that on March 23, five ambulances, a fire truck, and a UN vehicle were attacked "one after the other," and 15 bodies, including uniformed medical personnel, have been collected and buried in a mass grave. The sequential nature of the attacks raises serious concerns about intentional targeting and the protection of humanitarian workers.

The Israeli military stated that its forces fired on vehicles that were "suspiciously advancing" without headlights or emergency signals, and that Hamas militants and other armed personnel were among the dead. However, the Israeli side did not comment on the claim that the bodies were collected and buried in the sand. The discrepancy in accounts highlights the difficulty in verifying information from the conflict zone.

International humanitarian law prohibits targeting civilians and calls for special protection for medical personnel. As Israel's largest arms supplier, the United States is also bound by its own laws, which prohibit its weapons from being used by foreign militaries in violation of humanitarian law. These legal obligations underscore the importance of accountability and the need for thorough investigations.

The head of the UN humanitarian agency in Gaza, Jonathan Whittle, stated that the mass grave has been "marked" with the emergency lights from the attacked ambulances. In a video posted on X, he said, "What happened here is absolutely horrific, and medical personnel should never be targeted." His statement reflects the outrage and condemnation of the attacks on humanitarian workers.

After ceasefire agreement negotiations with Hamas stalled, Israel resumed airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza on March 18. According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, more than 1,000 people have been killed since then. The resumption of hostilities has resulted in a significant increase in casualties and further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis.

The Israeli military launched an operation to destroy Hamas in response to the unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 people being taken hostage. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 50,350 people have been killed in the ensuing war. The conflict's devastating impact underscores the urgent need for a lasting resolution and a commitment to protecting civilians.