US State Department Sued Over Aid to Israel

What Happened?

The U.S. State Department is facing a new lawsuit. A group of Palestinians in Gaza and Palestinian Americans argue that the U.S. has carved out loopholes for Israel.

In the lawsuit, filed Tuesday, it suggests that the State Department has 'failed to implement a federal law that would restrict the transfer of funds to foreign militaries over human rights abuses,' according to reports.

One report states the lawsuit reads, 'The State Department’s calculated failure to apply the Leahy Law is particularly shocking in the face of the unprecedented escalation of Israeli [gross violations of human rights] since the Gaza War erupted on October 7, 2023.'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously denied giving leeway to Israel back in April when asked if the department provided these privileges to Israel.

'Do we have a double standard? The answer is no,' Blinken previously told the Associated Press.

Why it Matters

Filed in Washington DC district court, the lawsuit reportedly marks the first time victims of alleged human rights abuses are challenging the State Department’s failure to sanction an Israeli security unit under the 1990s-era law.

The Leahy Law prohibits 'the U.S. Government from using funds for assistance to units of foreign security forces where there is credible information implicating that unit in the commission of gross violations of human rights (GVHR).'

Researchers at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, conducted a study that revealed that the U.S. had provided its close ally Israel an additional $17.9 billion since the start of the Israel-Gaza war. That includes its roughly $3.8 billion in annual military assistance.

This reality has led many to believe that if the U.S. were to cut off that surplus of funding assistance, Israel would not be able to keep up with its war-related efforts, including plaintiffs like Amal Gaza, a pseudonym for a mathematics teacher from Gaza who has lost 20 family members.

The Biden administration has also made conclusions that Israel likely used U.S.-supplied weapons in 'incidents that raise concerns' surrounding the country's legal compliance.

While Tuesday’s lawsuit was reportedly filed under the Administrative Procedure Act, advocacy director Raed Jarrar, assisting in this lawsuit, tells Al Jazeera, 'This is not an issue of foreign policy. It’s not an issue of politics.'

How it Affects You

As this lawsuit makes headway, it's critical to remain mindful of the millions affected by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.

President-elect Donald Trump said during a recent TIME interview, 'The Middle East is going to get solved. I think it’s more complicated than the Russia-Ukraine, but I think it’s easier to solve.'

The focus on how the incoming presidential administration handles these discussions will be closely monitored as hopes of a ceasefire deal still hang in the balance.