Rattibha

Itay Epshtain

6 Tweets 5 reads Aug 08, 2024

I find this picture of #Israeli coordination with humanitarian organizations in #Gaza (posted just now by COGAT) disturbing. Is the very visible presence of #US military personnel - outnumbering their Israeli counterparts - that of humanitarians or that of co-belligerents?

The International Court of Justice @CIJ_ICJ established in past months (through orders of preliminary measures, and recently in an Advisory Opinion) that #Israel is the occupying power in #Gaza, with a responsibility towards its #Palestinian population.

Is the #US a co-occupant with similar responsibilities to provide the civilian population of #Gaza with means essential to its survival, and like #Israel obligated to agree and facilitate humanitarian relief schemes? Is this some sort of CIVMIL coordination, and between who?

If #US military personnel are there as "impartial and neutral humanitarians," alongside @UN and @ICRC colleagues, that would be equally difficult to explain. This picture looks like no other meeting I witnessed in 24 years in the humanitarian sector. Needs explaining.

@UN @ICRC In this humanitarian coordination board the #US is represented by #USAID, yet around the table - in battle dress - are the staff of the US Army 10th Mountain Division, an elite light infantry division previously deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to COGAT @UN and @ICRC expressed appreciation of #Israel's efforts to facilitate humanitarian relief in #Gaza. This statement is incompatible with the arbitrary, capricious and unlawful limitations on aid imposed by Israel. @ochaopt and @ICRC_ilot should clarify.

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