Sen. Patrick Leahy and 10 members of the House of Representatives asked the Obama administration to look into "gross violations of human rights" by Israeli and Egyptian military forces.
Leahy and the group sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, which detailed "extrajudicial killings." The letter asked Kerry to investigate the Rabaa Square massacre in Egypt where 800 were killed.
Leahy has a law named for him that limits federal aid to countries whose military forces commit abuses. The law may cut funding to military units that have been charged, but not necessarily the entire country.
The letter obtained by
Politico said, "In light of these reports we request that you act promptly."
The letter's release came shortly after the release of a video in which an Israeli soldier executed a Palestinian prisoner at close range.
The soldier is being investigated,
reported The Times of Israel, but some in Israel are staunchly on his side.
The Media Line reports that Israel's army chief of staff and defense minister condemned the soldier after the shooting.
The letter may have political ramifications, due to the inclusion of Israel, the only democracy in the region. It could point to more tension between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Politico reports.
Egypt's abuses remain at issue while Obama seeks to keep Cairo as an ally.
Leahy spokesman David Carle said Leahy believes his law must apply to all countries, even allies.
"Both Israel and Egypt receive billions of dollars in U.S. military aid, and both countries' security forces have opened fire on protesters with impunity," said Amnesty International USA's Sunjeev Bery, who said the letter is "an important first step in the right direction."
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