Leftist Democrats invoke human rights law in scrutiny of 'Israel'
4 Min Read
Progressives in Congress claim the $14.3 billion aid package to "Israel" violates the Leahy Act, as the occupation causes more civilian deaths.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., talks during a news conference on Capitol Hill Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP)
Leftwing Democrats in Congress have pushed a law barring assistance to security forces of governments who are guilty of human rights abuses, in an effort to challenge the Biden administration’s military aid packages to "Israel".
Members of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing said that the $14.3bn package pledged by the White House after the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood breaches the Leahy Act because of the harm inflicted on civilians in Gaza.
On that note, it is worth highlighting that there are now more than 9,000 martyrs in Gaza so far, including around 3,700 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Why should the Leathy Act be applied to "Israel"?
The Leathy Act, sponsored by the former Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy and passed in 1997, prohibits the US defense and state departments from providing security assistance to foreign governments who are committing human rights crimes.
Proponents of applying the act to "Israel" refer to the mounting death toll in Gaza as a result of the aggressive attacks on the Strip, the displacement of over one million Gazans, and a deteriorating humanitarian crisis as a result of the Israeli occupation's tightening of the already-imposed siege - which cut off water, food, fuel, and electricity supplies.
“I am very concerned that our taxpayer dollars may be used for violations of human rights,” said Congressman Andre Carson of Indiana in an email to The Guardian, in which he accused the Israeli occupation of “war crimes”, citing this week’s deadly bombing of the Jabalia refugee camp and the "Israel's" use of white phosphorus.
“Last year, I voted to provide $3 billion dollars of strategic and security assistance to Israel. But we must absolutely make sure that none of those funds are used inappropriately, in violation of US law like the Leahy Act, or in violation of international law.”
"Israel" has no plans to stop attacks
The Israeli occupation and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have so far refused to respond to pleas for a humanitarian pause and have rejected calls for a ceasefire, as some progressive Democrats have requested.
On that note, the US House of Representatives approved a $14.3bn aid bill to "Israel" earlier today, despite warnings against the bill. The Republican measure was approved by 226-196, including 12 Democrats and two rejected Republican votes.
Senate leader Chuck Schumer slammed the House bill as "deeply flawed", adding that the upper chamber of Congress is not expected to pass it. Moreover, US President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the bill "should it ever land on his desk."
'Targeting refugee camps, hospitals, mosques ... is a violation'
The Leahy legislation was also cited by Usamah Andrabi, the head of communications for Justice Democrats, a political action group that assisted in electing left-leaning House members known as "The Squad".
“I think the Leahy Act should absolutely be looked into right now when we are seeing gross violations of human rights,” he said. “[The Israelis] are targeting refugee camps, hospitals, mosques all under the guise of self-defense or that one or other member of Hamas is hiding there. It doesn’t matter whether Hamas is there or not, because you are targeting civilians. No amount of tax dollars should be justified for that.”
'White phosphorus is a violation'
Like Carson, one of the most well-known members of "The Squad", Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, particularly mentioned the use of white phosphorus, as asserted by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW), as a violation that should bar "Israel" from getting aid from the US.
“Deployment of white phosphorus near populated civilian areas is a war crime,” she said. “The United States must adhere to our own laws and policies, which prohibit US aid from assisting forces engaged in gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.”
It is worth stressing that Congressional calls for scrutiny over US funding for "Israel" predate the current war in Gaza.
