US asks Israel for written assurances over use of US weapons in Gaza

The US has given Israel until mid-March to sign off on a letter that includes a written assurance that it will use US-supplied weapons in compliance with international law.

It's according to the information given by three US and Israeli officials to American website Axios.

US officials said they had formally briefed their Israeli counterparts on the new policy and gave them a draft letter they must sign to comply. 

If guarantees are not provided by the deadline, US arms transfers to the country will be temporarily halted, Axios reported.

The new policy, however, does not specifically target Israel and will cover several other countries that use American weapons.

According to a senior Israeli official, the written guarantees will be ratified by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken by the end of the month.