Emails Reveal US Military Concerns over Potential Israeli War Crimes in Gaza

Newly discovered emails obtained by Reuters indicate growing alarm among senior US military officials over the possibility of Israel committing war crimes in its 2024 Gaza operation. The emails, exchanged between senior State Department and Pentagon officials, raised concerns about the mass evacuation of Palestinians and highlighted the potential for legal implications.

In an email dated October 13, 2024, Dana Stroul, then-deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, warned senior Biden aides that Israel's actions could lead to war crime charges. Stroul expressed particular concern over the Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) practice of dropping leaflets over northern Gaza, urging residents to flee their homes ahead of military incursions.

Emails Reveal US Military Concerns over Potential Israeli War Crimes in Gaza

"Their main line is that it is impossible for one million civilians to move this fast," Stroul wrote. "One military expert said that no one could do that without creating a humanitarian catastrophe."

Stroul's concerns echoed those of other senior officials within the Pentagon. Three officials argued that the White House was slow to address the potential human cost of Israel's operation.

Emails Reveal US Military Concerns over Potential Israeli War Crimes in Gaza

As the situation in Gaza deteriorated, US officials grappled with the need to balance support for Israel with sympathy for the displaced Palestinian population. Bill Russo, then-assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs, stressed the importance of responding effectively to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

"If this course is not quickly reversed by not only messaging, but action, it risks damaging our stance in the region for years to come," Russo wrote in an email.

Emails Reveal US Military Concerns over Potential Israeli War Crimes in Gaza

Russo warned that the lack of response risked alienating Arab partners and undermining US credibility.

The invasion of Gaza and the US response to it had a significant political impact. Far-left voters, particularly in Michigan, expressed outrage over the perceived lack of action by the Biden administration.

Emails Reveal US Military Concerns over Potential Israeli War Crimes in Gaza

Progressive groups and younger voters held protests and criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her speech at the Democratic National Convention, accusing her of downplaying US complicity in the Gaza crisis.

The revelations in the emails shed light on the internal dynamics within the US government during the Gaza operation. They also highlight the growing international concern over Israel's actions, particularly among US allies.

Reuters contributed to this report.