A group of US senators has urged President Joe Biden to halt military aid to Israel, citing violations of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, as reported by the NYT. The senators, including SenSanders, RepMcGovern, SenJeffMerkley, and SenWarren, argue that Netanyahu's administration is using food, water, and medicine as weapons against the people of Gaza by blocking humanitarian assistance, a move they say contravenes Section 620I of the act. Calls for action include leveraging U.S. influence to demand a massive expansion of aid and working towards a permanent ceasefire. The situation has sparked debate on the Biden administration's next steps, including potential measures like denying supplemental aid to Israel or recognizing Palestinian statehood to ensure compliance with U.S. policies on civilian protection and humanitarian assistance, as suggested by @JonahBlank and Sens. @SenBlumenthal and @ChrisCoons.
In addition to Biden’s public criticism of Netanyahu’s campaign in Gaza, Washington can do more to give U.S. demands more heft, such as denying supplemental aid to Israel or recognizing Palestinian statehood, writes @JonahBlank. https://t.co/IgrfavGbrU
If Netanyahu fails to listen, the Biden administration and Congress will be prepared to take more persuasive steps to ensure compliance with U.S. policy on civilian protection and humanitarian assistance, Sens. @SenBlumenthal and @ChrisCoons write. https://t.co/8Ak8ABY09F
Read @JonahBlank on Biden’s growing frustration with Netanyahu and Israel’s extreme right-wing government—and what the Biden administration can do to influence Israeli actions in Gaza: https://t.co/hDT7SgpKa1
Netanyahu's right-wing government is blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza. Palestinians are starving and need immediate relief. It's horrific and violates U.S. law. With these illegal restrictions, the U.S. cannot continue providing bombs to Israel. https://t.co/0ASB4HcrA8
Israel is restricting U.S. humanitarian aid. They are breaking U.S. law. We should not send more U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund their war. https://t.co/bl144vWDsV
The arbitrary inspections process Netanyahu imposes is evidence of his blatant restriction of aid for Palestinian civilians. The U.S. must apply pressure for a massive expansion of aid by land, air, and sea, and work toward a permanent ceasefire. https://t.co/DaHfOsPRMT
US Congressman Jim McGovern: “Israeli PM Netanyahu has deliberately used food, water & medicine as weapons against the people of Gaza— violating Section 620I of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act. We need to use our leverage now, @POTUS. No more U.S. military aid to Israel in… https://t.co/KCdK5a8GcF
Israel is restricting U.S. humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. They are in violation of the law, and therefore, military aid should be suspended. Period. https://t.co/pUOcqP4NfE
Israeli PM Netanyahu has deliberately used food, water & medicine as weapons against the people of Gaza— violating Section 620I of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act. We need to use our leverage now, @POTUS. No more U.S. military aid to Israel in contradiction of our own laws. https://t.co/fJmPGHKVt3
US senators urge Biden to stop arming Israel – NYT The president is violating the aid law because the Netanyahu government is blocking humanitarian assistance to Gaza, a letter from a group of Democrats argues https://t.co/N4V1vu32dr https://t.co/mfEQk5p9WL