US calls for probe into video of Israeli forces shooting, burying Palestinians

WASHINGTON

The US said Thursday that it is deeply disturbed by the “alarming” contents of a video showing Israeli forces shooting two apparently unarmed Palestinians and burying them with a wheel loader and called for an investigation.

Asked about the video, a State Department spokesperson told Anadolu they were not able to independently verify the footage, adding they will urgently seek more information from the Israeli government.

"We expect this incident to be thoroughly investigated and if appropriate, seek accountability," the spokesperson said.

"Moreover, we have been clear that Israel has an obligation to investigate credible allegations of law of war violations, ensure appropriate accountability, and institute measures to prevent any violations from recurring," the spokesperson added.

The video, aired by Al Jazeera Arabic, shows the victims walking in an open area along the Gazan coast waving a white fabric -- the international sign for surrender.

It remains unknown when the incident took place, but the latest footage came days after another video that showed an Israeli drone tracking and attacking four Palestinians in Khan Younis, which left them dead in a series of strikes.

Meanwhile, the US, who is the largest provider of military assistance to Israel, is assessing Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza and possible violations of international humanitarian law.

"We do have processes going on examining specific incidents in the conduct of the campaign," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters Thursday, "They’ve not reached a final determination at this point."

A Feb. 8 memorandum signed by President Joe Biden requires countries that receive US military assistance to give Washington "credible and reliable written assurances" that the arms will be used in compliance with "international human rights law and international humanitarian law."

On Monday, Miller confirmed that Israel and six other countries that receive US military aid – Colombia, Iraq, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Ukraine – had submitted written assurances to the State Department.

"We have not found them (Israel) to be in violation of international humanitarian law, either when it comes to the conduct of the war or when it comes to the provision of humanitarian assistance," he said, adding that the State Department views their assurances through that ongoing work process.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on Palestinian territories since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas which killed around 1,200 people.

More than 32,500 Palestinians have since been killed and some 75,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.