US state department falsified report absolving Israel on Gaza aid – ex-official

Sustainable Development Goals and Humanitarian Aid in Gaza

The state department falsified a report earlier this month to absolve Israel of responsibility for blocking humanitarian aid flows into Gaza, overruling the advice of its own experts, according to a former senior US official who resigned this week.

Stacy Gilbert’s Resignation

1. Stacy Gilbert left her post as senior civil military adviser in the state department’s bureau of population, refugees and migration, on Tuesday.
2. She had been one of the department’s subject matter experts who drafted the report mandated under national security memorandum 20 (NSM-20) and published on 10 May.

NSM-20 Report Findings

• The NSM-20 report found that it was “reasonable to assess” that Israel had used US weapons in a way that was “inconsistent” with international humanitarian law.
• However, there was not enough concrete evidence to link specific US-supplied weapons to violations.

Controversial Conclusion

Even more controversially, the report said the state department did not “currently assess that the Israeli government is prohibiting or otherwise restricting the transport or delivery of US humanitarian assistance” in Gaza.

Impact on US Aid

It was a high-stakes judgment because under a clause in the Foreign Assistance Act, the US would be obliged to cut arms sales and security assistance to any country found to have blocked delivery of US aid.

Resignation and Concerns

• Gilbert, a 20-year veteran of the state department, objected to the report’s conclusion and resigned as a result.
• Democratic senator Chris Van Hollen expressed concerns over the bypassing of experts in favor of political convenience.

Resignations Over Gaza Policy

Gilbert and another US official resigned over the Biden administration’s Gaza policy, bringing the total number of resignations to nine.

Impact on Humanitarian Assistance

The resignations have come as famine is spreading in Gaza, with only a trickle of humanitarian assistance arriving through land crossings controlled by Israel.

## Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article:
### SDG 2: Zero Hunger
### SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
### SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

## Targets Identified in the Article:
### Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular, the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
### Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
### Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

## Indicators for Measuring Progress:
1. Amount of humanitarian aid flows into Gaza.
2. Number of people affected by famine in Gaza.
3. Access to food and medical supplies in Gaza.
4. Compliance with international humanitarian law by Israel.
5. Number of resignations of officials over US policy on Gaza.

## Table:
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|—————————————|—————————————————————————————————|———————————————————————————————-|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious food. | Amount of humanitarian aid flows into Gaza. |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage for all. | Number of people affected by famine in Gaza. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Institutions | Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all. | Compliance with international humanitarian law by Israel. |
| | | Access to food and medical supplies in Gaza. |
| | | Number of resignations of officials over US policy on Gaza. |

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Fuente: theguardian.com

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