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Akbar Shahid Ahmed Profile picture
@AkbarSAhmed
Mar 19 • 4 tweets • 1 min read • Read on X
SCOOP: US Ambassador to Israel Lew on Tuesday privately endorsed Israel's claims it's abiding by US law in using American weapons + sending aid to Gaza—alarming US officials who say that's untrue + setting up the Biden admin for a bigger fight with lawmakers, humanitarian groups.
This is per 2 US officials who saw a cable Lew sent to the State Dept today.

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant last week signed a letter the Biden admin drafted outlining Israeli assurances.

But the Lew step provides a key stamp of approval as the admin seeks to continue..
..military support for Israel's Gaza offensive while senators, human rights + aid experts say that's in violation of American law given Israel's conduct.

Blinken has to certify by 3/25 that Isr assurances are credible to maintain the policy.

Background: huffpost.com/entry/aid-gaza…
A US official told me Lew made "an absurd argument."

They pointed to recent statements from @ChrisVanHollen & co to say Israel "is clearly in blatant violation of [US legal] requirements, as evident from the record-breaking rates of children killed and starved to death in Gaza."

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More from @AkbarSAhmed

Akbar Shahid Ahmed Profile picture
Feb 10
A striking element of this week's Dearborn meeting: the way Biden foreign policy officials are still trying to play by DC rules focused on niceties rather than action. It reflects either a deliberate choice or unwillingness to acknowledge the real pain...
nytimes.com/2024/02/09/us/…
...of their Gaza policy. These are people who used to mollifying critics by managing their access: if they feel heard, maybe it'll all settle down + don't they want to be invited to the next exclusive meeting? If so, better not record or leak!

But Gaza's pain + outrage over it..
...are so far beyond that point. And with Biden's reelection prospects dim + the involvement of thousands of people who've never been this engaged/aligned on a natsec issue before, simply offering the chance to "maintain a dialogue" will continue to feel hollow, fueling more rage
Read 6 tweets
Akbar Shahid Ahmed Profile picture
Feb 9
On the Biden memo/Van Hollen move 🧵

Yes, a notable response to pressure on US Gaza policy. But key to remember:
1) This helps Biden/Dems avoid a Senate debate + going on the record via vote on aid to Israel
2) Like the settler EO, this creates obligations/powers―nothing binding
So much of this is already enshrined in US policy (no war crimes, no blocking humanitarian aid, etc) but it's not applied because of what current & former US officials describe as a deep-rooted resistance to accountability for Israel, particularly in the Biden admin post-Oct. 7.
Van Hollen played a key role in rallying senators around a vehicle for challenging Biden's policy of full-tilt support for Israel regardless of its battlefield conduct. And this may well help w/ accountability conversations moving forward. But track words/proclamations w/ actions
Read 8 tweets
Akbar Shahid Ahmed Profile picture
Feb 2
I've now heard from 2 State Dept officials about a Blinken town hall on Wednesday.

He took 1 Q on Gaza.

The official said their team gets daily pleas from Gazans the US has worked with, describing danger, exposure to disease, lack of water + food, trauma. "I implore you..." 🧵
...what can we do more to negotiate the end to this conflict, save innocent Palestinians?"

The Q highlighted a chilling irony, one official noted: the US is helping bomb, starve & siege thousands of people it's previously invested $ + time into supporting for stability's sake.
"The US believed in their future + people are being ghosted or worse, are being left to die," the official said.

They said Blinken offered talking points that have largely stayed the same as messages soon after Oct. 7.

The sec said he knows the war is "profoundly felt" at State
Read 7 tweets
Akbar Shahid Ahmed Profile picture
Feb 1
A month ago, State Dept said "several hundred" US citizens remain trapped in Gaza.

A month later, a spox tells me today they don't have an updated estimate to provide.

The govt is *legally mandated* to help Americans abroad.

Hundreds of Americans are trapped + thousands are..
...living with the knowledge their loved ones are in a active war-zone where famine's spreading & there's no clarity about the only functioning exit point.

This deepens the sense Biden sees these folks as second-class citizens + bolsters voters' rage.
huffpost.com/entry/american…
"This remains a fluid + quickly evolving situation," spox said, noting US has helped >1600 Americans, family members & green card holders to leave + "We expect these numbers will grow as long as the crossing remains open."

That "as long as" is stunning given US leverage here.
Read 4 tweets
Akbar Shahid Ahmed Profile picture
Jan 26
NEW: A US official working on Middle East policy tells me the Biden administration has a plan in place to respond to today's ICJ ruling.

The U.S. expected this order, the official says. Deeply cynical plan in place: It'll say these steps are what the U.S. was already pushing for
It's widely acknowledged current US involvement presented as encouraging Israeli restraint are having little effect.

Isr attacking southern Gaza as it did the north.

+ 3 top former US officials recently told me attempts to boost aid are largely moot: huffpost.com/entry/gaza-hos…
"While it was a legal blow it didn’t go as far as to address slowing or stopping kinetic activity which would have been a nightmare for our legal teams & top leadership," US official continues, noting chief Biden admin fear was ICJ ordering a ceasefire.
Read 9 tweets
Akbar Shahid Ahmed Profile picture
Jan 25
At 7am EST tomorrow, the International Court of Justice will deliver an initial "order" in South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

Huge moment for Israel, Palestine, the US & more.

Here's my read based on interviews I've done so far & materials I've reviewed...
Widespread expectation the court *will* approve at least some of the measures SA is seeking. Chances it'll heed Isr call for a dismissal of the case are "slim" per @AhmedAbofoul.

The mere act of acknowledging there is a basis to suspect genocide would be a big step for the Court
@AhmedAbofoul Isr taking this seriously: Bibi met w/ legal advisors today, Isr declassified gov docs to bolster its case & Isr appeared at the Court as it hasn't in other challenges.

Much could hinge whether Gaza's getting enough aid. Experts have a clear consensus: no
huffpost.com/entry/gaza-hos…
Read 15 tweets

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