Harris Faces Hypocrisy on International Law in Washington

Kamala Harris's inclination towards a rules-based international order is influenced by her prosecutorial background and the reality of U.S. alliances with autocratic regimes. Despite her acknowledgment of Israel's right to self-defense, the ongoing military support from the U.S. to Israel raises questions about complicity in alleged war crimes in Gaza. Reports indicate that Israel has engaged in actions that may violate international humanitarian law, including indiscriminate bombings and starvation of civilians. The Biden administration's approach contrasts with that of the U.K., where Prime Minister Keir Starmer has suspended arms sales to Israel due to concerns over humanitarian law violations. While Harris, as vice president, faces limitations in diverging from Biden's policies, she has the opportunity to articulate a different stance on U.S. foreign policy should she become president. This situation highlights the hypocrisy in U.S. foreign policy, where the commitment to international law is often overshadowed by political alliances and military support for allies that violate human rights.