Democratic senators demand Biden halt military aid to Israel

A group of Senate Democrats led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has announced that President Biden Japan is demanding that Japan abide by the Foreign Assistance Act and cut off aid. Military aid to Israel.

In a letter to Biden on Monday, the senators said that if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government continues to block U.S. humanitarian aid to Gaza, Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act would force the Biden administration to It said it was calling for an end to arms sales and transfers.

“The United States should not provide military assistance to any country that impedes U.S. humanitarian assistance,” they wrote, and the law’s language also states that the U.S. should provide missile defense systems such as Iron Dome and supplies. He pointed out that it is still permissible to do so. Protect Israeli civilians from rocket attacks.

But senators argue that the law specifically prohibits the transfer of weapons such as 155mm artillery shells used to shell neighborhoods in the Gaza Strip.

Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Maxie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) also signed the letter.

According to Palestinian officials, the death toll in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 31,000.

“Federal law is clear and given the urgency of the Gaza crisis and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s repeated refusal to address U.S. concerns on the issue, immediate action is necessary to ensure a change in government policy.” “is necessary,” the senators said. I have written.

In recent days, public attention has focused on civilian hunger in the Gaza Strip. Take, for example, Yaza Cafarne, the 10-year-old boy whose skeleton was featured prominently on the front page of the Sunday New York Times.

“Your administration has repeatedly stated that Israeli restrictions on humanitarian access both at the border and within Gaza are one of the main causes of this humanitarian catastrophe, and the United Nations and many aid agencies have also stated that Confirmed,” the senators wrote.

They provided that “no assistance shall be provided” under the Act or the Arms Export Control Act to any country that directly or indirectly restricts the transportation or provision of U.S. humanitarian aid. He cited the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

“We call on the Netanyahu government to make clear that it must immediately and dramatically expand humanitarian access and facilitate the safe delivery of aid to all of Gaza, or there will be serious consequences. We urge you,” they wrote.