On March 27, Israel attacked a building in Hebbariye, southern Lebanon, which housed the Islamic Emergency and Relief Corps. The attacks killed seven volunteer paramedics and was deeply criticized internationally as a war crime.
A new report from The Guardian revealed the bomb used in the attack was a US-made Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). Produced by Boeing, JDAMs figure prominently among the items Israel requests from the US.
Though US law is meant to prevent arms transfers from going to nations that are committing war crimes, the US routinely provides JDAMs to Israel in large quantities. This is leading to growing international calls from major human rights groups to stop arms transfers to Israel.
Amnesty International says that the civilian casualties inflicted “underscore the overall pattern of unlawful attacks” by Israel. JDAMs were reported to have been used in killing civilians in the attack on the Gaza Strip.
Human Rights Watch officials also call for the halt of transfers, saying that “Israel’s assurances that it is using US weapons lawfully are not credible.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) says he views the reports of JDAMs being used in killings as “deeply concerning” and wants details of this included in the administration’s report to Congress on weapons transfers, due later this week.
The US National Security Council said it was aware of the reports and has been seeking additional details on the matter. Israel has so far declined comment on the matter.
Israel said that March 27’s attack targeted a “military building,” and claimed it killed a high-level militant. Locals confirmed this was not the case, however, and that everyone recovered from the destroyed building was a civilian volunteer.
