U.S. Urges All Parties in Gaza to Follow War Laws

U.S. Urges Compliance with Humanitarian Law by All Parties in Gaza

The United States has reiterated its expectation that all parties involved in the Gaza conflict adhere strictly to international humanitarian law. However, Washington declined to confirm whether it is conducting an independent investigation into a reported Israeli military strike that resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals, including health workers, civil defense personnel, and a United Nations staff member.

When questioned about the incident, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated, “Everything occurring in Gaza is a result of Hamas.”

According to the United Nations humanitarian agency, the March 23 attack directly targeted five ambulances, a fire truck, and a UN vehicle. The agency reported that the bodies of 15 people—among them uniformed medical personnel—were recovered and buried in a mass grave.

In response, the Israeli military said its forces opened fire on vehicles that were moving suspiciously without lights or emergency signals. It claimed that a Hamas official and several militants were among those killed but did not address the reports of the collected and buried corpses.

International humanitarian law strictly prohibits the targeting of civilians and affords special protection to medical personnel operating in conflict zones.

The United States, as Israel's largest arms supplier, is also bound by its own legislation, which prohibits the use of its military aid by foreign forces in ways that contravene humanitarian law.