• US intelligence found that Israeli military lawyers warned about potential war crimes in Gaza.
• Concerns emerged about the legality of Israel's military operations amidst high civilian casualties.
• The Biden administration debated the implications of the intelligence but chose to continue support for Israel.
• Former officials revealed fears of legal repercussions for the US if it accused Israel of war crimes.
• The implications of failing to address these warnings may impact future US foreign policy regarding Israel.

Recent disclosures from US intelligence agencies indicate that Israeli military lawyers had internal discussions expressing doubts about the legality of their military tactics in the Gaza conflict, which heavily relied on American-supplied weapons. This intelligence reportedly highlighted fears of potential war crimes linked to Israel's operations, raising alarms among US officials as civilian casualties in Gaza escalated, according to Reuters and HuffPost.

In the latter part of President Biden's administration, concerns regarding Israel’s military actions came to a head as the internal dissent grew more pronounced. This included discussions about the legality of Israel’s strategies, which were purportedly aimed at eliminating Hamas fighters believed to be using civilian structures as shields. Some US officials believed this could constitute deliberate targeting of civilians, an assertion that Israel has consistently denied, according to Reuters and India Times.

Reports surfaced that the Biden administration had delayed the dissemination of this critical intelligence until just before a congressional briefing in December 2024. Lawmakers and humanitarian organizations urged immediate scrutiny and reassessment of US military support amidst allegations that Israel might be violating international humanitarian law, an argument supported by the evolving intelligence assessments, according to HuffPost.

Internal discussions within the administration included high-ranking officials weighing the implications of formally recognizing potential Israeli war crimes. Fears surfaced that such a determination could legally necessitate a halt to military assistance, which many believed would embolden Hamas and hinder ceasefire negotiations. Ultimately, US lawyers concluded that there was insufficient independent evidence to prove deliberate violations by Israel, as highlighted by reports from India Times and Reuters.

The scrutiny intensified further when the UN commission of inquiry released findings in September, claiming there were reasonable grounds to believe that Israel had committed acts of genocide against Palestinians throughout the conflict. This increased pressure on the US to assess its ongoing support for Israel and reconsider its legal stance, as articulated in reports by India Times and HuffPost.

The decisions made during this period have raised questions about the future of US-Israel relations and the implications for the Biden administration’s foreign policy legacy. The tensions surrounding these discussions also highlight the challenges that senior officials faced in balancing political considerations with legal and moral obligations amid a devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to HuffPost.