US punts on reports of US-made weapons used in Israeli attack on school

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US on Monday declined to comment on reports that US-made weapons were used in Israel’s attack on a school in Gaza that killed at least 100 forcefully displaced people.

“I wouldn't speculate on that. I would let the IDF (Israeli army) speak to any operations that they may or may not have undertaken,” State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

Asked if there is an ongoing effort in the State Department to assess the use of US-made weapons in Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, Patel responded: “Of course there is.”

But he declined to give details on the “ongoing deliberative process.”

“Israel is a country in which we have a robust security partnership,” Patel said, “I'm not going to speak to ongoing and deliberative processes but as we do with any country in which we have a security relationship there are tools at our disposal to ensure that the use of security systems are consistent with international humanitarian law.”

At least 100 people were killed and many injured Saturday when Israeli aircraft targeted Palestinians performing fajr (dawn) prayers at the Al-Tab'een school in Gaza City’s Al-Daraj neighborhood.

Israel claimed that 31 Hamas members were killed in Saturday’s school attack.

Patel said the US is engaged with its partners in the Israeli army about the attack, adding that it supports its ability to take out Hamas members, which he claims uses civilians as human shields

“We also will continue to stress that there is a moral and strategic imperative for Israel to minimize its impact on civilians and minimize civilian casualties,” he added.

“We are deeply concerned about this weekend's horrific incident on the Al-Tab'een school in Gaza City that killed a number of people sheltering,” he said.

CNN has confirmed that at least one U.S.-provided GBU-39 small-diameter bomb was used in the attack.

The attack came just two days after the Biden administration informed Congress of its plans to provide $3.5 billion to Israel for the purchase of US weapons and military equipment.