U.S. intelligence agencies temporarily withheld parts of their intelligence sharing with Israel during the Biden administration over concerns about Israel’s conduct in Gaza, six sources told Reuters.
In the second half of 2024, Washington cut off a live video feed from a U.S. drone over Gaza that Israel was using to help locate hostages and Hamas operatives. Five sources said the pause lasted at least several days.
Two sources said the U.S. also restricted how Israel could use certain intelligence in pursuing high-value military targets.
The move followed rising concern within the U.S. intelligence community over civilian casualties in Gaza and allegations of abuse of Palestinian detainees by Israel’s Shin Bet security agency. Sources said Israel had not provided sufficient assurances that intelligence was being used in line with the laws of war, as required under U.S. law.
Sources described the move as “limited and tactical,” even as the Biden administration continued supplying Israel with weapons and intelligence.
The exact dates of the suspensions are unknown. It is unclear whether former U.S. President Joe Biden was aware of them.
Israel’s military said security cooperation with the U.S. continued throughout the war. The White House, CIA and Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office (which oversees Shin Bet) declined to comment.