US may block arms sales to Israel: Details
Flag of the US (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
On Wednesday, the US Senate is expected to vote on a bill that would block the sale of certain types of weapons to Israel, reports Reuters.
The agency reports that the bill is backed by lawmakers who argue that Israel is obstructing humanitarian aid urgently needed by Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
The resolutions of disapproval were introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. However, due to strong bipartisan support for Israel, the resolutions are expected to fail. Nonetheless, supporters hope they will prompt both the Israeli government and the administration of US President Joe Biden to do more to protect civilians in Gaza.
According to Reuters, the two resolutions, co-authored with Democratic Senators Jeff Merkley and Peter Welch, seek to block the sale of 120mm mortar shells and joint direct attack munitions (JDAMS).
A third resolution, authored by Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, seeks to block the sale of tank shells.
In a statement, Sanders emphasized that Israel's war in Gaza has been largely fought with US weapons and $18 billion of US taxpayer money.
"This war has been conducted almost entirely with American weapons and $18 billion in US taxpayer dollars. Israel has dropped US-provided 2,000-pound bombs into crowded neighborhoods, killed hundreds of civilians to take out a handful of Hamas fighters, and made little effort to distinguish between civilians and combatants. These actions are immoral and illegal," Sanders said.
