House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has aligned herself with progressive voices, diverging from President Joe Biden’s stance, to advocate for a complete cessation of ongoing and future U.S. arms shipments to Israel.
Forty members of Congress have signed a letter to President Biden, dated Friday, expressing their concern about the recent deadly attack on World Central Kitchen aid workers. They are requesting an investigation into whether Israel is using U.S. weaponry in accordance with both U.S. and international law.
Nancy Pelosi’s endorsement carries immense weight, especially considering her extensive history of collaboration with Joe Biden.
Seven aid workers were killed on Monday in an incident that has caused global outrage over Israel’s handling of the war. These aid workers had coordinated their movements with the Israeli military and were traveling in clearly marked vehicles.
An American citizen was among the workers who dedicated their efforts to providing food for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amidst the threat of famine.
On the day of the World Central Kitchen attack, the Biden administration allegedly greenlit a shipment of arms consisting of numerous 2,000-pound bombs and smaller explosives. There are also reports suggesting that a potential sale of up to 50 F-15 fighter jets is currently under consideration.
A letter addressed to President Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urges them to rethink their recent decision to approve the transfer of a new arms package to Israel. The letter emphasizes the importance of conducting a thorough investigation into the airstrike before proceeding with any offensive arms transfers.
The letter stated that if the strike is determined to have violated U.S. or international law, it is requested that the transfers be withheld until those responsible are held accountable. Furthermore, it emphasizes that the transfers should also be withheld if Israel fails to adequately minimize harm to innocent civilians in Gaza, including aid workers, and if it hinders or arbitrarily denies or restricts the transportation and delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The list of signees also features several other representatives who share similar progressive values. They include Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
Since the attack by Hamas-led militants on Israel, where over 1,100 people lost their lives, Biden has expressed unwavering support for the country. This stance has triggered significant backlash, leading to protest votes in certain states’ Democratic primaries.
During a discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week, President Biden’s tone underwent a notable shift. He emphasized the need for an “immediate cease-fire” and made it clear to Netanyahu that future U.S. support would be contingent upon Israel’s efforts to safeguard civilians and aid workers in the Gaza Strip. Biden expressed his strong disapproval of the current situation, deeming it “unacceptable.”
Israel wasted no time in taking action after the discussion, as it promptly announced its decision to open two humanitarian aid routes into Gaza.
On Friday, the Israeli military announced that it had taken action regarding the World Central Kitchen attack. Specifically, two officers were dismissed and three others were reprimanded for their involvement in the incident.
House Republicans have set a date for next week to hold a vote on a resolution that criticizes Biden’s policy shift, labeling it as “one-sided.”