A group of Palestinians is suing the US government to stop military aid to Israel, alleging violations of human rights laws. The lawsuit accuses the Biden administration of failing to enforce the Leahy Law, which prohibits US assistance to foreign military units involved in torture, extrajudicial killings, and other abuses.
The Lawsuit and Its Key Demands
The case, filed on Tuesday, focuses on the State Department’s inaction amid mounting evidence of Israeli military abuses in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. It asks a US federal court to order the government to identify Israeli military units committing rights violations and halt funding to those groups.
Lead plaintiff Amal Gaza, a teacher in Gaza, said she has been displaced seven times since October 2023. Israeli attacks have killed 20 of her family members. “The suffering my family and I endure would be reduced if the US stopped providing military assistance,” she stated.
The plaintiffs, supported by the human rights group DAWN, argue that the State Department’s failure to enforce the Leahy Law is enabling human rights violations. “We’re simply asking the government to follow its own law,” said Raed Jarrar, DAWN’s advocacy director.
Human Rights Violations in Focus
Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, Israeli military actions have led to the deaths of over 45,000 Palestinians, with widespread accusations of war crimes. In the West Bank, deadly violence has surged, with 770 Palestinians killed between October 2023 and November 2024.
Rights groups have documented Israel’s use of US-made weapons in strikes that indiscriminately killed civilians. Observers argue that if the US stopped its annual $3.8 billion in military assistance, Israel’s military campaign would become unsustainable. Researchers also estimate an additional $17.9 billion was provided since the Gaza war started.
“If the Leahy Law were applied properly, most of Israel’s military units would be ineligible for US aid,” Jarrar noted. “Stopping that assistance would significantly hinder Israel’s war efforts.”
The Leahy Law: Ignored for Israel?
The Leahy Law bars funding to military units involved in gross human rights abuses, such as torture, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances. However, the lawsuit highlights Washington’s special treatment of Israel.
The Biden administration previously considered cutting aid to the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, a unit notorious for abuses in the West Bank. However, the State Department ruled that Israel had taken “effective steps” to address those abuses, allowing aid to continue. Critics argue this determination lacked transparency and credibility.
Read: Khalid Nabhan ‘The Soul of My Soul’ A Symbol of Resilience
A Unique Vetting Process for Israel
The US uses a special vetting process for Israel, known as the Israel Leahy Vetting Forum (ILVF). Unlike other countries where decisions are made quickly, Israel’s process involves high-level meetings and formal information requests that delay outcomes. Charles Blaha, a former State Department official, described this as a “time-consuming, high-level” process that shields Israel from accountability.
Blaha further stated that evidence sufficient to cut aid to other countries “does not meet the bar” for Israel, resulting in no units being deemed ineligible since the ILVF’s creation.
Plaintiffs Seek Accountability
Palestinian American plaintiff Ahmed Moor said his family in Gaza lives in constant fear. “They’ve been forcibly displaced four times, and US-funded weapons are enabling these attacks,” he said.
The lawsuit, filed under the Administrative Procedure Act, frames the issue as a matter of legal compliance, not foreign policy. Plaintiffs are urging the court to hold the State Department accountable and enforce the Leahy Law equally, without exceptions for Israel.
A Critical Moment for US Policy
This legal challenge underscores growing scrutiny of America’s military support for Israel. As rights abuses mount, the case highlights a crucial question. The question is: Will US laws be applied consistently, or will exceptions for allies persist?
Follow Day News on Google News, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Whats App, and TikTok for latest updates
