A leaked internal memo reveals that at least seven State Department bureaus expressed concerns to Secretary of State Antony Blinken about Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in its use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Gaza.
Some officials questioned the credibility of Israel's assurances, while others defended continued support.
Blinken must report to Congress by May 8 on whether he finds these assurances credible, as per a February National Security Memorandum from President
Joe Biden.
The text describes how by March 24, seven State Department bureaus had submitted their views to Secretary of State Blinken in an "options memo" regarding potential violations of international humanitarian law by Israel in Gaza.
Some bureaus favored accepting Israel's assurances, others rejected them, and some took no position.
A joint submission from four bureaus expressed serious concern over non-compliance with humanitarian law during Israel's Gaza war.
The memo, which contained classified parts, provides the most comprehensive picture to date of internal divisions within the State Department on this issue.
The four international bureaus have issued a statement expressing doubt in Israel's assurances regarding potential violations of humanitarian law.
They presented eight instances of Israeli military actions that raise "serious questions" about such violations, which the officials deemed as neither credible nor reliable.