"The United States must be willing to take concrete action to
oppose" such practices, the group said in an open letter to
Biden, "including restrictions on provision of (U.S.) assistance
(to Israel) consistent with U.S. law and policy."
Among the signatories were more than a dozen former ambassadors,
as well as other retired State Department officials and former
Pentagon, intelligence and White House officials, including
Anthony Lake, a national security adviser to former President
Bill Clinton.
The letter underscored rising dismay in the United States over
Israeli operations against the Gaza Strip's ruling Hamas
militants ignited by their Oct. 7 rampage into southern Israel
in which they killed some 1,200 people and took 253 hostages.
Much of Gaza has been destroyed and nearly 32,000 Palestinians
killed, according to Gaza health authorities. The United Nations
says the population of 2.3 million has little food, water and
shelter, and food shortages in parts exceed famine levels.
In its letter, the group said that an Israeli military operation
against Hamas was "necessary and justified."
But Israel's operations "have been marked by repeated
violations" of international law banning indiscriminate killing
and the use of weapons that do not permit discrimination between
combatants and civilians, the group said.
"Tens of thousands of Gazan civilians have been killed, the
majority of whom are women and children," the group said.
"Civilian killings of this nature and magnitude cannot be
justified."
Israel denies that its operations breach international law.
The group said that it strongly backs Biden's call for an
immediate truce of at least six weeks, the establishment of a
reliable humanitarian aid delivery system, and the release of
hostages.
The signatories also called on the Israeli military to implement
rules of engagement consistent with international law.
(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Stephen Coates)
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