Biden administration to miss deadline for report on Israeli weapons use, sources say

The administration of US President Joe Biden will miss a Wednesday deadline to report to Congress on whether Israel is violating international humanitarian law in Gaza, four sources say.

A National Security Memorandum, known as NSM-20, that Biden issued in February requires the State Department to report to Congress by May 8 on whether it finds credible Israel’s assurances that its use of US weapons does not violate US or international law.

Four sources say the administration has informed congressional committees that it will not make the deadline, but hopes to present its findings within days. Two congressional aides say they have no indication the delay is tied to political concerns.

Commenting on the matter in a press briefing today, State Department spokesman Matt Miller said: “It’s possible it slips just a little bit, but we’re still at this point trying to get it done by tomorrow.”