WASHINGTON (Dispatches) – A coalition of civil society organizations has urged the Pentagon’s top brass to halt a planned transfer of artillery ammunition to the Zionist regime. Around 11,500 Palestinians have been killed in the regime’s military campaign in Gaza so far.
Over 30 groups, including Oxfam America, Amnesty International, and the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), penned a joint letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to express alarm over the Pentagon’s plans to transfer armaments from existing U.S. stocks already positioned in Israel.
“Under the current circumstances, granting Israel access to these munitions would undermine the protection of civilians, respect for international humanitarian law (IHL), and the credibility of the Biden administration,” the groups wrote, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Washington Post.
“Simply put, it is difficult to imagine a scenario in which high explosive 155mm artillery shells could be used in Gaza in compliance with IHL,” they added.
The arms are part of what is known as the War Reserve Stockpile, which is pre-positioned in Israel to facilitate the arming of U.S. forces, or for transfer to Israel, the daily reported. The newspaper said it is not clear if the transfer of the artillery ammunition has already happened.
U.S. President Joe Biden has been facing growing criticism after voicing unwavering support for the occupying regime’s campaign.
A federal complaint has been filed against Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin for failing to “prevent an unfolding genocide and complicity in its development.”
New York civil liberties group the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed the suit on Monday on behalf of Palestinian human rights organizations, Palestinians in Gaza, and U.S. citizens with relatives in the besieged enclave, who have faced nearly 40 days of unrelenting bombardments by Israel, which has been militarily and financially backed by the U.S.
“Under international law, the United States has a duty to take all measures available to it to prevent genocide. Yet, defendants have repeatedly refused to use their obvious and considerable influence to set conditions or place limits on Israel’s massive bombing and total siege of Gaza,” the lawsuit reads.
It slammed the Biden administration for opposing “a life-saving cease-fire and lifting of the siege” and even vetoing “United Nations measures calling for a ceasefire.”