The rights organization Human Rights Watch has condemned the United States for its military aid to Israel during operations in Gaza, asserting that this assistance may implicate the US in violations of international law. The report, released on Tuesday, highlighted concerns that the US military could bear joint responsibility for alleged war crimes committed by Israeli forces.
Sarah Yager, the Washington director at Human Rights Watch, stated, “The direct US participation in military operations with Israeli forces means that as a matter of international law, the United States has been and currently is a party to the armed conflict in Gaza.” This statement underscores the complexities surrounding US involvement in the ongoing conflict, which is categorized as a non-international armed conflict under international humanitarian law.
According to Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, actions such as murder, mutilation, and torture remain prohibited in such conflicts. Furthermore, the Draft Articles on State Responsibility for International Wrongful Acts outline that a state may be held accountable if it aids another state in committing an internationally wrongful act, provided that the aiding state is aware of the circumstances.
Human Rights Watch pointed out that the previous Trump administration was consulted by Israeli officials prior to airstrikes in Gaza that took place on March 18, 2025. US military officials allegedly provided “actionable intelligence,” sold weapons, and delivered various forms of aid to Israel, actions that the organization argues breach both the Geneva Convention and the Draft Articles.
In response to international calls for accountability, the US Department of State announced sanctions against members of the International Criminal Court in August 2025. These sanctions followed the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli leaders concerning alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, released by the US Department of State, also faced criticism for its reduced references to human rights abuses related to sexuality, gender, and race. This scaling back has raised eyebrows among human rights advocates, who argue that it undermines the importance of these issues.
As the conflict in Gaza continues to evolve, the implications of US assistance to Israel remain a point of contention among international observers. Human Rights Watch’s findings serve as a reminder of the legal and ethical complexities surrounding military support during armed conflicts, prompting renewed discussions about accountability on the global stage.
