- Pelosi and Democrats urge Biden to halt arms transfer
- Demand for inquiry into Israeli assault causing fatalities
- UNHRC adopts resolution for accountability over Gaza civilian casualties
In a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, over thirty Democratic members of the United States House of Representatives have demanded an absolute cessation of arms transfers to Israel.
The letter signed by the lawmakers on Friday, including former House speaker and Biden ally Nancy Pelosi, stated, “We believe it is unjustifiable to approve these weapons transfers in light of the recent strike against aid workers and the ever-worsening humanitarian crisis.”
Insisting that Western governments and the White House cease arming Israel, the Israeli military’s relentless assault on the Gaza Strip, where the death toll has surpassed 33,000 since October, has increased the pressure. Israel’s commitment to reopen a border crossing to northern Gaza has not resulted in any advancements towards a ceasefire and the enclave where famine has set in, nor has it been possible to deliver additional humanitarian assistance.
This week, Israel announced that the Beit Hanoon (Erez) border crossing with northern Gaza will reopen for humanitarian aid. This comes hours after Biden issued a warning that Israel must safeguard civilians and humanitarian workers in the wake of Israeli military strikes against the United States-based food charity World Central Kitchen (WCK).
The letter continued, “While we express our gratitude for your administration’s recent endeavours to augment the transportation of essential humanitarian supplies to Gaza, these efforts will fall short of satisfying the extraordinary demand that exists there.”
In addition, the legislators demanded that the Biden administration undertake an independent inquiry into the Israeli assault that resulted in the fatalities of seven WCK members in central Gaza.
The Israeli military dismissed two officers and formally reprimanded senior commanders on Friday in response to significant errors and breaches of procedure discovered during an investigation into the fatalities of aid workers.
More than two hundred humanitarian workers have lost their lives since the onset of the conflict. It was noted in the letter that the World Central Kitchen and other humanitarian organizations have ceased operations in Gaza as a result of the chilling effect these attacks and fatalities are having.
Hassan Barari, a professor in the Department of International Affairs at Qatar University, stated that the letter signifies a “shift in the American scene” and that “the entire Democratic party is moving to adopt this position, so it has become mainstream.”
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Friday, the Human Rights Council of the United Nations adopted a resolution demanding accountability for Israel for potential war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza and a cessation of all arms sales to the country.
Although some Western nations, including Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Spain, and Belgium, have ceased arms sales to Israel in response to escalating criticism over the increasing number of civilian casualties, several other countries continue to provide lethal weapons to the country.
The majority of Israel’s defense requirements, including 2000-pound bunker-buster munitions, have been provided by the United States. The United States Congress also authorized an additional $14 billion in military aid to Israel this year.
Barari stated, “In light of Israel’s actions, I believe the pressure is legitimate; however, we must also keep in mind that the international community has been complicit in every Israeli massacre and genocide.”
Hundreds of attorneys and judges, opposition parties, and some Conservative Party parliamentarians have demanded that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cease selling weapons to Israel in the United Kingdom.
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