After Michael Kurilla

2 May 2025

“General Kurilla welcome to you and your family, congratulations on your nomination, I’d like to focus on one of the topics that you and I discussed when we met last week, civilian casualties. I think everyone in this room can agree that U.S. military operations kill far too many civilians. In the past two decades, the United States has killed tens of thousands of innocent people, including hundreds of women and children across half a dozen countries in the Middle East and Africa…This has been the unfortunate reality of U.S. military operations despite congressional oversight, despite dozens of watchdog groups raising the alarm, and despite documenting the harm, and despite DOD’s efforts and attempts at reform designed to improve how it protects civilians. So, General, you have been nominated to lead the United States military operations in an area of responsibility that has seen the lion's share of these casualties.”

Senator Elizabeth Warren, Michael Kurilla’s Confirmation Hearing, 8 February 2022.

“The top U.S. general overseeing American forces in the Middle East made an unannounced trip to Israel on Tuesday, saying he hoped to ensure its military has what it needs as it fights a deepening war against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The trip by Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, is the latest by a senior U.S. official to Israel ahead of an expected ground assault by Israel's military in Gaza. It comes a day before a planned visit by U.S. President Joe Biden to the country.”

Phil Stewart, “Exclusive: Senior US general flies into Israel as its war with Hamas deepens”, Reuters, 17 October 2023.

On 1 April 2022, General Michael Kurilla assumed command of U.S. Army Central Command (CENTCOM). He is due to end his tenure shortly. Together with Biden, Secretary of Defence Austin, Foreign Secretary Blinken, and National Security Adviser Sullivan, Kurilla is complicit in Israel’s genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Gaza. American complicity in Israel’s heinous crimes is based on its total ideological and operational identification with Israel’s illegal war; constant and exceptional arms supply; shielding Israel diplomatically; subverting international legal accountability; and adhering to the influential whims of the Israel lobby.

CENTCOM is dedicated to securing American commercial interests in the Middle East, located with the oil-rich countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. It maintains close military and intelligence cooperation with Israel, encompassing regular regional sabotage activities before and after 2021, the year Israel CENTCOM’s area of responsibility. The relations with the Gulf countries lack any form of transparency and accountability, given the nature of these regimes and the pattern of operation of the U.S. military. CENTCOM’s contacts with Israel have been nurtured by the American political establishment’s subordination to the Israel lobby in its various forms, including AIPAC and JINSA. There is no understanding of Israel as a colonial, occupying power, and apartheid state since its inception and after 1967. Most probably, the perception of Zionism is aligned with mythical concepts lacking any genuine contemporary or historical comprehension.

Kurilla's alignment with Israel has been total. The fact that the Israeli army and government have concealed from the inception of the war on 7 October 2023 that they killed most Israeli civilians that day does not trigger any questioning by Kurilla, nor the other lies that Israel spread about the events of that day.

The command structure in the American constitutional framework places the American president as commander-in-chief of the U.S. military. In reality, the dynamic is that of consultation and mutual as well as joint responsibility. American operational involvement with Israel’s military conduct has been from the outset of the latter’s unlawful campaign against Gaza.

In October 2023, an American general and several U.S. Army officials travelled to Israel to provide advice based on their purported counterinsurgency combat experience.[1] At that time, as throughout the war on Gaza, the Biden administration was committed wholeheartedly to Israel’s war. The claim that these officers were tasked to ask difficult questions defies reason and the nature of American and Biden’s diplomacy in such circumstances, in addition to the U.S. Army’s demonstrated malfeasance.

Kurilla and his superior, Secretary of Defense Austin, frequently communicated with Israel regarding the war without affecting its malevolent behaviour. On the contrary, arms supply continued to flow regularly to Israel, conveying a clear message of approval and support while American diplomatic effort concentrated on shielding Israel from any criticism, barring both humanitarian and permanent ceasefires.

A notable incident was when Biden maliciously cleared Israel of responsibility for targeting a hospital that resulted in more than 400 deaths.[2] In December 2023, Austin made public the concern that Israel is targeting civilians deliberately[3], only to be contradicted by Biden and the army generals headed by Kurilla. Biden has been a longtime politician on the payroll of the Israel lobby. The statements of two key politicians represent the spirit of much of the operational nature of the U.S. Army. Senator Tom Cotton said in October 2023 that “Israel can bounce the rubble in Gaza”.[4] In December 2023, Senator Lindsey Graham expressed loss of confidence in Austin for noting Israel’s military strategy of targeting civilians.[5] Graham also passionately observed in May 2024 that Israel should do whatever it can to achieve victory, raising the analogy of dropping nuclear bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.[6] 

It was common knowledge that the NSA and CIA had placed their services at the disposal of Israel, disregarding the nature of its grave violations of international law. A glimpse of Ronen Bergman’s reporting in the New York Times that often crossed the boundaries of legality in the past few years leaves no doubt about this fact. The NSA is part of the US army and falls in this context under the jurisdiction of Kurilla. The CIA, which is under the authority of the American president, works closely with his subordinates and Israeli colleagues.

Kurilla’s CENTCOM coordinated the massive and unprecedented constant arms supply to Israel[7] pushed for by lobbying groups working on behalf of Israel and the defence industry.[8] “This was demonstrated with the acceleration of arms shipments from the United States. ‘Almost all the obstacles but one have been overcome, says an Israeli official familiar with Israel-US military cooperation’”. Kurilla’s CENTCOM has also been playing a central role in designing Palestinian politics together with Israel for a yet to be reached post war Gaza “where unanimity, cooperation devoid of egos and political interests prevail along with remarkable military professionalism.”:

The Biden administration also believes that the goodwill CENTCOM will garner in Israel’s security establishment – Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and intelligence chiefs - will help them install an alternative government in Gaza that would include the Palestinian Authority. This would also enable further countries in CENTCOM’s military coalition such as the UAE, to participate in the new administration in Gaza after the war.[9] 

U.S. officials aided the Israeli operation that killed more than 270 Palestinians in Gaza, culminating in the release of four Israeli captives. The illegal maneuver used the purported humanitarian bridge built by the U.S. Army, supposedly designated to be used for humanitarian assistance delivery. Another clear joint operation with unquestionable disregard for international law and the lives and integrity of Palestinian civilians.[10]  

Kurilla was, in all likelihood, aware of the American administration’s decision to assassinate Palestinian leader Ismail Haniyeh who resided in Qatar during his visit to Iran. A civilian who never took direct part in hostilities, he was killed shortly after Biden dropped out of the presidential race by CIA agents benefiting from NSA’s surveillance capacity and talent in coordination with Israel.[11]   

Kurilla’s complicity in Israel’s genocide and other serious violations of international law in Gaza is beyond doubt. As an ordinary military commander, his wish has been to achieve victory by subduing his enemy. The Palestinians in Gaza were his enemy. He shared the motivation and the mindset of his Israeli partners. Kurilla wholeheartedly identified with Israel’s war, supplied them with weapons, operational advice, and oversaw many illegal incidents, some of which were performed jointly with the Israeli military. Kurilla should be investigated and prosecuted for the crimes for which he is culpable. If the United States' competent authorities do not abide by their obligations, international instances such as the International Criminal Court and universal jurisdiction should be utilized.   

[1] Barak Ravid, “Scoop: Marine Corps 3 – star general advising Israeli military on Gaza ground operation”, Axios, 23 October 2023.

[2] Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana, “Biden on Gaza hospital strike: Looks like the ‘other team’ did it”, Politico, 18 October 2023.

[3] Phil Stewart, “Civilians ‘are center of gravity’ in Gaza war: US defence secretary”, Reuters, 3 December 2023.  

[4] Edith Olmsted, “Tom Cotton’s Gaza Comments are Horrifying”, The New Republic, 16 October 2023.  

[5] David Cohen, “I’ve lost confidence in Lloyd Austin, Lindsey Graham says”, Politico, 3 December 2023.

[6] Alexandra Marquez, “Sen. Lindsey Graham says Israel should do ‘whatever’ it has to while comparing the war in Gaza to Hiroshima and Nagasaki”, NBC, 12 May 2024.

[7] John Hudson, “U.S. floods arms into Israel despite mounting alarm over war’s conduct”, Washington Post, 6 March 2024; Linda Bilmes et al, United States Spending on Israel’s Military Operations and Related U.S. Operations in the Region, October 7, 2023 – September 30, 2024, Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, 7 October 2024.

[8] Bret Murphey, “Inside the State Department’s Weapons Pipeline to Israel”, ProPublica, 4 October 2024.

[9] Ron Ben Yishay, “The American Wall of Defense around Israel”, Ynet, 24 August 2024.

[10] Imogen Piper et al, “How an Israeli hostage rescue that left scores of Palestinians dead unfold”, Washington Post, 13 August 2024; Ellen Nakashima et al, “U.S. intelligence aided Israeli hostage rescue”, Washington Post, 8 June 2024.  

[11] See “Israel braces for Iranian retaliation as US General Kurilla arrives for coordination”, Jerusalem Post, 5 August 2024.

Michael Kurilla. Source: Times of Israel, 7 January 2022.

Senator Tom Cotton. Source: The New Republic, 16 October 2023.

Senator Lindsey Graham. Source: The Intercept, 30 July 2015.