Twenty Democratic Lawmakers Urge Biden to Halt Weapon Transfers to Israel
Twenty Democratic members of Congress are demanding President Biden halt the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel, citing Israel’s failure to comply with US demands for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.
In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the lawmakers, led by Representatives Summer Lee and incoming Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar, argued that continued weapons transfers violate US law and prolong the suffering of Palestinians.
The letter, released Tuesday, directly references an October ultimatum from the US administration to Israel, demanding improved humanitarian access to Gaza within 30 days. While US officials demanded the passage of at least 350 aid trucks daily, an average of only 42 trucks were allowed entry during that period. This, coupled with accusations from humanitarian organizations like the Norwegian Refugee Council and Oxfam that Israel’s actions exacerbated the situation in northern Gaza, prompted the lawmakers’ action.
“Continuing to transfer offensive weapons to the Israeli government prolongs the suffering of the Palestinian people and risks our own national security by sending a message to the world that the US will apply its laws, policies, and international law selectively,” the letter read.
The lawmakers contend that inaction will embolden Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, further isolating Israel internationally and destabilizing the region.
The letter highlights the grim reality in Gaza, where a suffocating blockade has led to widespread hunger and the war has claimed over 45,000 lives, according to local health authorities. The International Criminal Court recently issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister for suspected war crimes, including the use of hunger as a weapon of war. Numerous human rights groups and UN experts have accused Israel of committing genocide.
Despite these accusations and the failure to meet the US’s humanitarian aid conditions, the Biden administration has reaffirmed its “ironclad” support for Israel, providing an estimated $17.9 billion in aid during the first year of the conflict, according to a Brown University study.
The lawmakers’ push is unlikely to alter the administration’s stance, but it underscores the growing pressure from progressive Democrats to reassess US Middle East policy. The letter coincides with a lawsuit filed by Palestinians seeking to end US military support for Israeli units allegedly involved in human rights abuses.
