Democratic US senators call on Rubio to probe Israeli human rights violations in Gaza

WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) – Democratic US Senators have called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to urgently investigate claims of “hundreds” of human rights violations by Israeli military units in Gaza, citing a classified assessment by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Senators Chris Van Hollen (Maryland) and Jack Reed (Rhode Island) led the letter, warning that delays in reviewing incidents of killing, torture, and abuse could undermine US laws that bar security assistance to foreign military units credibly accused of such violations. Nine additional Democratic senators signed the request.

“Without effective enforcement mechanisms, these laws and policies become meaningless,” the senators wrote, urging Rubio to implement OIG recommendations and confirm whether additional resources are needed to handle the caseload.

A State Department official said the department “is aware of and complies with its legal obligations.” The Israeli military did not immediately respond.

Despite ongoing investigations, no Israeli military unit has been ruled ineligible for assistance under the Leahy Laws, which require the US to withhold aid from units with credible evidence of human rights violations. High-profile incidents under review include the April 2024 killings of World Central Kitchen workers and the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians near Gaza City in February 2024.

Since October 2023, the Israeli army has reportedly killed nearly 70,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, and injured 171,000 others, leaving much of the enclave in ruins.