USA: Dozens of Democratic congressmen pressure Biden on support for Israel

Nearly 90 Democratic American congressmen have asked President Joe Biden to consider cutting off arms sales to Israel if the Israeli government does not change its policy in its war against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, writes AFP.

In a letter signed by 88 members of Congress and sent to the White House on Friday, elected Democrats express “serious concerns about the Israeli government’s handling of the war in Gaza, including the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid.”

The restrictions imposed by Israel on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip supported by Washington “contribute to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe”, the Democratic congressmen also say in the letter.

The signatories, including many elected to the House of Representatives, are asking the Democratic president to make it very clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that any obstruction to the delivery of aid to Gaza “jeopardizes eligibility for new offensive security assistance from States United”.

They state, however, that Israeli missile defense systems, such as Iron Dome, must be excluded from this possible suspension of American aid.

“We continue to strongly support the provision of life-saving defense funds to Israel,” the Democratic congressmen also said in the letter.

The letter’s signatories include Democrats on the House Defense and Foreign Affairs Committees.

Since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, US President Joe Biden, who is campaigning for re-election to the White House, has been criticized for his unconditional support for Israel.