House Democrats Urge President Biden to Halt Weapon Sales to Israel
A recent appeal from nearly 90 House Democrats urges President Biden to consider suspending the sale of offensive weaponry to Israel. The concern stems from ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid flow into Gaza, amidst escalating pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses nationwide, which have raised alarms within the Democratic Party.
State of Affairs: Led by Representatives Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), the lawmakers referenced a memo signed by Biden in February. This memo stipulated that Israel must guarantee the preservation of human rights in Gaza, including facilitating, rather than impeding, aid flow. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant provided assurances in March, agreeing to these terms.
The Message: In a letter to Biden, the group of 88 Democrats affirmed their support for Israel’s right to self-defense. However, they argued that there is ample evidence of Israel violating the federal law outlined in Biden’s memo. Citing allegations from the United Nations’ humanitarian affairs office that aid trucks to Gaza are only partially filled, the lawmakers urged the State Department to employ various measures, including withholding specific arms transfers, to ensure Israel’s compliance.
Key Figures: The letter was endorsed by prominent House Democrats, including Annie Kuster (D-N.H.), Chair of the New Democrat Coalition, and Jim Himes (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee. Notably, the appeal for increased humanitarian aid is framed in terms of supporting Israel’s security interests, as a famine in Gaza is deemed detrimental both immediately and in the long term.
Recent Developments: This letter follows a prior appeal from 57 House Democrats urging Biden to withhold aid transfer that could be used in an assault on Rafah, a city in Southern Gaza. Acknowledging the growing pro-Palestinian movement domestically and internationally, the lawmakers concluded that allowing famine in Gaza would severely damage Israel’s global reputation and undermine prospects for peace.
This humanizes the message while emphasizing the urgency and significance of the Democrats’ appeal to the Biden administration.
