Democrats urge Biden to leverage weapon supplies to 'Israel' for aid

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 May 2024 08:39

A flurry of Democrat lawmakers have signed and sent a letter to Joe Biden urging him to pressure "Israel" to facilitate aid deliveries to Gaza.

United States President Joe Biden greets people during a State Dinner at the White House in Washington, the United States, on May 2, 2024. (AP)

Multiple Democrat lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives urged President Joe Biden to consider halting arms sales to the Israeli regime if it does not change its approach to its war on the Gaza Strip.

88 Democratic members of Congress signed and delivered a letter to the White House, stating that Washington should take a firmer stance toward its Israeli ally. The lawmakers expressed "serious concerns regarding the Israeli government's conduct of the war in Gaza as it pertains to the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid."

Highlighting the Israeli occupation's restriction on US-backed humanitarian aid delivery to the Gaza Strip, members of Congress said that the policy has "contributed to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe."

They also urged Biden to make it clear to the head of the Israeli regime, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that placing any hurdles in front of aid delivery to Gaza risks Israeli occupation forces' "eligibility for further offensive security assistance from the United States."

However, the lawmakers did say that assistance should not include anti-air systems and equipment such as munitions or parts for the Iron Dome.

"We continue to strongly support providing such lifesaving defensive funding to Israel," the letter said.

Unwavering American support to 'Israel' dwindling

Months after Biden pledged "unwavering" support for "Israel" in October 2023, Americans are now taking significant steps against their government's backing of the Israeli regime. This dissent is evident in widespread student protests that have swept through dozens of American universities. While the protesters' demands have yet to be fully embraced by US officials, this recent letter to Biden underscores growing dissatisfaction among Democrats.

On a popular level, an ABC News-Ipsos survey released on Friday showed that around 40% of Americans believe the US is providing too much assistance to "Israel" in its war on Gaza. The poll shows that nearly four out of every ten Americans believe the US is doing too much to back the occupation, up from three out of ten in January this year.

With growing domestic difficulties, Washington continues to work on achieving what it has described as a "truce" in Gaza and a prisoner exchange deal with the Palestinian Resistance, all the while failing to manage the Israeli occupation's actions. Moreover, the Biden administration has drawn no clear red line over the Israeli invasion of Rafah, which is sure to spur more domestic dissent against Biden in a crucial election year.