U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns

U.S. intelligence agencies temporarily suspended the sharing of certain sensitive intelligence with Israel during the administration of President Donald Trump, according to people familiar with the matter. The move, which occurred in the second half of 2024, reflected growing concerns within the U.S. intelligence community about Israel’s conduct during the war in Gaza, particularly regarding civilian casualties and the treatment of Palestinian detainees.

Sources said the United States cut off a live video feed from an American MQ-9 Reaper drone flying over Gaza. The feed had been used by Israeli authorities to help locate Hamas militants and assist in efforts to recover hostages. The suspension reportedly lasted for at least several days. In addition, U.S. officials placed restrictions on how certain intelligence could be used by Israel in pursuing high-value military targets, signaling unease about compliance with the law of war.

Under U.S. law, intelligence agencies must receive assurances that shared information will not be used to violate international humanitarian law or human rights standards. Officials were concerned that Israel had not provided sufficient guarantees, particularly amid reports that Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security agency, may have mistreated Palestinian prisoners. While Israel has said abuse is not systematic and that allegations are under investigation, U.S. intelligence officials viewed the concerns as serious enough to warrant temporary action.

Despite the pause, U.S.-Israeli security cooperation continued throughout the Gaza conflict. The intelligence restrictions were described by sources as limited and tactical, rather than a wholesale policy shift. Intelligence agencies have discretion to make real-time decisions on information sharing without direct White House orders, especially when legal or ethical thresholds are in question. Sharing reportedly resumed after Israel provided renewed assurances regarding the use of American intelligence.

Experts note that denying battlefield intelligence to a close ally during an active conflict is highly unusual and underscores the level of tension behind the scenes. This is particularly significant given the deep, decades-long intelligence relationship between the United States and Israel and strong bipartisan political support following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war.

While internal discussions reportedly took place within the Trump administration about more formal limits on intelligence sharing, no lasting cutoff was imposed. Administration lawyers maintained that Israel had not been found to be in violation of international law, and officials concluded that continued cooperation served U.S. strategic interests. The episode highlights the complex balance between alliance commitments, legal obligations, and human rights concerns during one of the most closely scrutinized conflicts in recent years.