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Palestinian Families Sue U.S. State Department Over Military Aid to Israel Under Leahy Law Amid Human Rights Violations in Gaza

Dec 17, 2024, 08:09 PM

Five Palestinian families from Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and the United States have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. State Department, alleging that it has created loopholes to continue military aid to Israel despite the country's involvement in serious human rights abuses. This lawsuit is notable as it marks the first instance where victims of alleged human rights violations are challenging the State Department's failure to sanction an Israeli security unit under the Leahy Law, which prohibits U.S. assistance to foreign military units implicated in human rights abuses. The lawsuit demands that the State Department comply with the law requiring a ban on assistance to abusive Israeli security forces. Former State Department officials who were involved in crafting the Leahy Law are reportedly supporting the lawsuit, which comes amid ongoing humanitarian crises in Gaza resulting from military actions that have reportedly killed tens of thousands. The Biden administration is facing scrutiny for its military aid policies and for allegedly withholding documents related to anti-Israel funding.