Twenty-six House Democrats, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, expressed deep concern to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan over President Biden’s decision to withhold military aid from Israel. They stated that withholding weapons shipments to Israel would only embolden mutual enemies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian-backed proxies. The lawmakers highlighted the continued threat of Iranian-backed terrorist groups firing rockets at Israel and the rising global spread of antisemitism.
In a CNN interview, President Biden announced a pause on the US-supplied arms to Israel’s war effort if military forces moved forward with an invasion of Rafah, Hamas’ last stronghold in the Gaza Strip. The President emphasized that certain categories of American weapons would not be supplied if Israel went into Rafah, in order to protect civilian lives in the area. The pause included 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, with the White House expressing concerns about the impact these weapons could have in dense urban settings.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video message, stated that they would stand alone if necessary, without directly mentioning Biden’s decision to withhold military aid. The House Democrats criticized the President’s decision, stating that it would strengthen the Iranian terror proxies’ agenda of chaos and make a hostage agreement even harder to achieve. They referred to the 240 people kidnapped during the Oct. 7 invasion of Israel by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and 33 US citizens.
The lawmakers warned that stalling military aid shipments to Israel would allow terror groups to continue stealing humanitarian aid, putting innocent Palestinians at greater risk. They called for continued commitment to eliminating Hamas entirely, as previously stated by President Biden. The House Democrats requested a classified briefing to discuss the matter further and receive assurances on when the $17 billion in military aid for Israel, approved by Congress, would be delivered. The members emphasized the importance of American leadership in supporting the country’s closest ally in the Middle East.
The Congressman and his colleagues also highlighted the impact of the conflict on Palestinian casualties, with more than 30,000 reported killed in dense urban warfare. They emphasized that failing to fulfill their obligations would leave a vacuum for anti-democratic adversaries to exploit, underscoring the need for continued American support for Israel. The letter to Sullivan did not receive an immediate response, but the lawmakers sought to engage in further discussion and receive clarity on the delivery of military aid approved by Congress.
