Biden-era intelligence curbs on Israel revealed amid Gaza civilian toll

US intelligence agencies temporarily restricted the sharing of certain sensitive information with Israel during the Biden administration amid concerns over civilian casualties and the treatment of Palestinian detainees during Israel’s war in Gaza, according to six people familiar with the matter, who spoke to Reuters.

In the second half of 2024, US officials shut down a live video feed from an American MQ-9 Reaper drone operating over Gaza that Israel had been using to track Hamas militants and help locate hostages. The suspension lasted at least several days. US agencies also placed limits on how Israel could use certain intelligence when targeting high-value military objectives.

The steps were taken after intelligence officials grew increasingly concerned about the scale of civilian deaths in Gaza and received information suggesting that Israel’s domestic security service, Shin Bet, may have mistreated Palestinian prisoners. Officials were also worried that Israel had not provided sufficient assurances that US intelligence would be used in accordance with the law of war, a requirement under US law.

Sources said the moves were limited and tactical rather than a shift in overall policy, as the Biden administration continued to provide Israel with military and intelligence support throughout the conflict. Intelligence agencies have the authority to make real-time decisions on intelligence sharing, and Israeli requests to expand or modify access required renewed assurances on lawful use.

The intelligence sharing resumed after Israel provided the required assurances. Reuters could not determine whether President Joe Biden was aware of the temporary restrictions. His office declined to comment.

Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Biden signed a memorandum expanding intelligence cooperation. US agencies then deployed drones over Gaza to provide Israel with real-time intelligence to assist with hostage recovery and counter-Hamas operations.

Toward the end of 2024, however, US officials said concerns deepened after receiving intelligence related to the alleged mistreatment of Palestinian detainees. Shin Bet did not provide sufficient assurances addressing those concerns, prompting the temporary suspension of the drone feed, according to two sources.

Human rights groups have documented serious abuses of Palestinians in Israeli detention during the war, though Israel says any abuse is not systematic and is under investigation.

Despite internal assessments by US intelligence analysts that raised serious questions about possible violations of the law of war, Biden administration lawyers maintained that Israel had not breached international law and that US military and intelligence support remained lawful.

In the final weeks of the administration, senior officials discussed whether to formally cut off some intelligence sharing, citing mounting concerns and new intelligence suggesting Israeli military lawyers had identified evidence that could support war crimes allegations. Biden ultimately decided against doing so, according to sources, noting that the partnership was likely to be renewed by the incoming Trump administration.

Israel’s military said strategic intelligence cooperation with the United States continued throughout the war.

By Tamilla Hasanova