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Classified US report uncovers backlog of Israeli human rights violations in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Friday, 31 October 2025 3:26 AM

A classified report from the US government's watchdog has revealed that Israeli occupation military units may have committed "many hundreds" of potential violations of human rights laws in the Gaza Strip, according to a report.

The findings from the State Department's Office of Inspector General indicate that it could take the Department "multiple years" to review these credible allegations, according to two US officials who spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the report.

This marks the first time a US government document has acknowledged the extensive scale of Israeli military actions in Gaza that could fall under the purview of the Leahy Laws—legislation intended to prevent US security assistance to foreign military units accused of gross human rights violations.

According to the officials, the report's findings have led to skepticism about the likelihood of accountability for Israel's crimes, especially given the backlog of incidents and the review process, which they claim is overly deferential to the Israeli military.

"What worries me is that accountability will be forgotten now that the noise of the conflict is dying down," said Charles Blaha, a former State Department official with experience overseeing the Leahy Laws.

While the inspectors declined to comment on the report's specifics, they confirmed its existence on the agency's website, stating that it contains classified information not available for public viewing.

The report was finalized just before a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas, which facilitated the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and allowed some humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli aggression has continued, with reports of Israeli airstrikes killing at least 104 Palestinians on one of the deadliest days since the ceasefire was enacted.

The Leahy Laws, named after former Senator Patrick J. Leahy, are designed to impose consequences on foreign military units receiving US funding that are found to have committed atrocities such as extrajudicial killings and torture.

Israel's ongoing genocidal war in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 69,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, has put the effectiveness of these laws to the test.

High-profile incidents remain under review, including the killings of humanitarian workers and civilians, with no definitive conclusions reached by the US on the use of American weapons in these incidents.

The US provides approximately $3.8 billion in aid to Israel annually, which makes it the largest recipient of US aid globally, along with billions more in additional assistance.

The classified report elaborates on how the review process for potential human rights violations by foreign militaries, particularly Israel, is uniquely designed, allowing for a more prolonged scrutiny compared to other nations facing similar allegations.

The specific protocol, known as the Israel Leahy Vetting Forum, involves higher-level US officials and a lengthier process aimed at reviewing incidents allegedly involving Israeli occupation forces.

Under regular circumstances, a single objection from an official is adequate to halt assistance, but the process for Israel requires consensus from a working group, which includes representatives from pro-Israel entities within the US government. This has created a system where, to date, no Israeli military unit has been denied US assistance despite evidence of human rights abuses.

The Biden administration has faced criticism for its decision not to suspend aid to Israeli units that have been linked to gross human rights violations, including a case involving the death of Omar Assad, a 78-year-old American citizen who died after being detained by Israeli forces. The Israeli military later described the incident as a "moral failure and poor decision-making" by the soldiers involved.