The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

For Biden, a tough call looms on whether Israel violated laws in Gaza

The administration’s determination, due to Congress this week, poses a considerable moral and political dilemma for the president.

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May 6, 2024 at 7:54 p.m. EDT
President Biden makes his way to the Oval Office on Monday. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)
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The Biden administration is expected to notify Congress this week whether it believes Israel has violated U.S. or international law in Gaza, a determination with significant moral and political stakes for President Biden.

The forthcoming report, portions of which are expected to be made public after its transmission to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, arrives at a difficult time for U.S.-Israeli relations, as President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tangle over Israel’s defiance of Washington’s warnings about its conduct of a war and blockade that has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and triggered the onset of famine.