U.S. Lawmakers Call on Biden Administration to Suspend Offensive Weapons Transfers to Israel

Washington, DC – A group of 20 Democratic lawmakers in the United States has called on President Joe Biden's administration to halt the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel, citing the Israeli government’s failure to meet U.S. demands for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.

In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, the legislators urged the U.S. to enforce its own laws that bar military assistance to countries implicated in war crimes or obstructing humanitarian efforts.

“We believe continuing to transfer offensive weapons to the Israeli government prolongs the suffering of the Palestinian people and risks our own national security by signaling that U.S. laws, policies, and international norms are applied selectively,” the letter stated.

The lawmakers argued that inaction would further escalate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s campaign in Gaza, isolate Israel internationally, and exacerbate instability in the region. The initiative was led by Representatives Summer Lee and Greg Casar, who is set to chair the Congressional Progressive Caucus next year.

Although the effort is unlikely to shift Biden or Blinken's steadfast support for Israel, it highlights ongoing progressive dissent within the Democratic Party regarding U.S. Middle East policy.

The letter also referenced the Biden administration's October ultimatum to Israel, which called for facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza within 30 days or facing potential consequences. Despite this, humanitarian organizations have reported that Israel largely failed to meet these conditions.

While U.S. officials had demanded the entry of 350 aid trucks daily into Gaza, only an average of 42 trucks were allowed through during the 30-day period, according to the lawmakers.

Humanitarian groups—including the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Refugees International, and Save the Children—have accused Israel of exacerbating conditions in Gaza, particularly in the north. These groups jointly stated that Israel’s actions “dramatically worsened the situation on the ground, at enormous human cost for Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”

The war in Gaza has caused catastrophic destruction, with local health authorities reporting more than 45,000 deaths. Israel’s blockade has intensified food shortages, and rights organizations, including United Nations experts, have accused the Israeli government of committing genocide against Palestinians.

Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing alleged war crimes in Gaza, including the use of hunger as a weapon.

Despite this, the Biden administration has continued to support Israel, with a Brown University study estimating that $17.9 billion in U.S. aid was provided to Israel in the first year of the war.

The congressional letter coincides with a lawsuit filed by Palestinians from Gaza, the West Bank, and the U.S., seeking to compel Washington to end military aid to Israeli forces involved in human rights abuses.