US Disappointed Israel Uses Intelligence Data To Target Gaza Civilians

JAKARTA - The United States authorities are concerned that the intelligence data shared by the superpower with Israel was apparently used to target civilians and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday.

The Wall Street Journal reported the report by citing a source familiar with the situation.

After the October 7 attacks, the United States and Israel signed a secret memorandum of intelligence distribution, the report reads.

At the start of the conflict, US intelligence agencies developed rules to exchange data with Israel, but then senior policymakers at the White House will determine whether there is a violation of the rule, the report added.

US special agencies collect data on possible violations of conflict rules by both parties in a report published every two weeks, according to the newspaper.

In the memorandum, Israel is committed to using the data in a way that does not target civilians or civilian infrastructure, the newspaper said, citing US officials.

"At the same time, it is difficult to understand exactly how the information is used," the officials said.

On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Hamas group launched a large-scale rocket attack on Israel and violated borders, attacking civilian environments and military bases.

Nearly 1,200 people in Israel were killed and about 240 others kidnapped in the attack.

Israel launched retaliatory attacks, ordered a total blockade of Gaza, and began ground attacks on Palestinian enclaves with the aim of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages.

More than 32,700 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, the local government said.