US scraps order linking arms sales to international law

According to reports, the White House has lifted a crucial policy that links international human rights law.

The Washington Post reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources, that US President Donald Trump had ordered the crucial policy to be eliminated.

In response to concerns over Israel’s actions during its war on Gaza, Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden signed the order, which sought to stop US arms sales from aiding human rights violations abroad.

According to the sources, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz had written a memo formally expressing the decision.

Biden’s signature in February 2024, National Security Memorandum 20, demanded assurances that US weapons would not be used in a way that would violate international humanitarian law. In response to growing concern that Israel was systematically violating human rights as a result of its bombardment of Gaza, the measure was taken.

One of the few remaining Biden policies that addressed the conflict was the memorandum. The White House website has removed any memorandum references, leaving only 404 errors when searched for it.

The Biden administration was unable to verify specific cases of civilian harm because of the ongoing war, according to a May 2024 report mandated by the memorandum.

Following moves to lift Israeli settlers’ rights in the occupied West Bank and lift sanctions against heavy weapons shipments to Israel, Trump made the decision to overturn the memo.

On February 7, the Trump administration approved the sale of more than $7.4bn worth of bombs, missiles, and related military equipment to Israel.

The latest move effectively removes the last vestige of Biden’s policies on the Gaza war, which has killed at least 48, 346 and left more than 111, 759 others wounded.

‘Shameful’

Senator Chris Van Hollen, a well-known proponent of the memo’s removal, criticized the decision to scrap it, calling it “shameful” and a blow to US national security and global human rights.

He added that the reversed decision undermines taxpayers’ ability to ensure that their donations are in line with US laws and values.

“This is another clear example of Trump’s blatant indifference to American values”, he stated.

US Senator Jim Risch, a Republican and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed the move.