State Department Submits Key Report to Congress on Israel’s Use of US Weapons

In February, President Joe Biden issued National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20, or “National Security Memorandum on Safeguards and Accountability With Respect to Transferred Defense Articles and Defense Services”), which directs the U.S. State Department to “obtain certain credible and reliable written assurances from foreign governments receiving [U.S.] defense articles and, as appropriate, defense services” that they will abide by U.S. and international law. NSM-20 also requires the Departments of State and Defense to report to Congress within 90 days on the extent to which such partners are abiding by their assurances. 

Today, Secretary of State Antony Blinken submitted the Department’s overdue NSM-20 report on assurances by Israel and other countries to Congress. Just Security obtained an unclassified version of the report, which is available here.  

Read Just Security’s coverage of the Israel-Hamas war here. This is a developing story with further analysis to come.

IMAGE:  Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), talks to reporters with (L-R) Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA), Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol to celebrate a new policy that demands recipients of foreign military aid adhere to international humanitarian law on February 09, 2024 in Washington, DC.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)