US: Israel Must Comply with International Law in Tunnel Flooding Operation

"Maximize Protection of Civilians"

The U.S. government emphasized compliance with international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians in response to reports that Israel has begun filling underground tunnels in the Gaza Strip with seawater to root out the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a briefing on the 13th (local time), "Any tactics they (Israel) use must comply with international humanitarian law," adding, "They must be planned in a way that maximizes the protection of civilians."

The previous day, the U.S. Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the Israeli military has been using seawater since last month to destroy underground tunnels that serve as hiding places and transportation routes for Hamas. The operation aims to flood the tunnels to force Hamas operatives underground to surface. However, concerns have been raised that this operation could cause humanitarian damage and negatively affect Gaza's groundwater, water purification facilities, and soil.

Regarding criticism that the adoption of a ceasefire resolution on the Israel-Hamas war at the United Nations General Assembly highlights the U.S.'s diplomatic isolation, Miller responded, "That is not the case at all," noting the long history of overwhelming support for UN resolutions backing Israel.

The U.S. was the only Security Council member to vote against the ceasefire resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on the 8th. Additionally, when the ceasefire resolution was discussed at the UN General Assembly, the U.S. proposed an amendment condemning Hamas's surprise attack on Israel in October, which killed over 1,000 civilians, but the amendment was rejected.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.