Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and a group of Democratic lawmakers have urged President Joe Biden to suspend arm transfers to Israel after the tragic deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza.
Seven aid workers in Gaza were killed on Tuesday in an IDF airstrike, which has sparked criticism from Israel's western allies, including the United States. Senior officers involved in the airstrike were later dismissed by Israel's military.
According to NBC News, a letter signed by over three dozen members of Congress urges Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to reassess their decision to supply Israel with U.S. weapons during their ongoing conflict with Hamas.
"Given the recent incident, we highly recommend that you reconsider your decision to approve the transfer of a new arms package to Israel. It would be prudent to hold off on any offensive arms transfers, including this one, until a thorough investigation into the airstrike has been conducted," the lawmakers expressed.
"We strongly encourage you to refrain from authorizing these transfers if Israel does not take adequate measures to minimize harm to innocent civilians in Gaza, including aid workers, and if it hinders or unjustly limits the transportation and delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza," they emphasized.
The House lawmakers have called on the Biden administration to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the airstrike that resulted in the tragic deaths of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen organization. The letter requests that the administration temporarily suspend the provision of weapons to Israel until the investigation is concluded.
Last week, Biden had a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging Israel to take stronger measures to reduce civilian casualties and prevent attacks on humanitarian workers in Gaza.
Seven aid workers in Gaza were killed on Tuesday in an IDF airstrike, which has sparked criticism from Israel's western allies, including the United States. Senior officers involved in the airstrike were later dismissed by Israel's military.
According to NBC News, a letter signed by over three dozen members of Congress urges Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to reassess their decision to supply Israel with U.S. weapons during their ongoing conflict with Hamas.
"Given the recent incident, we highly recommend that you reconsider your decision to approve the transfer of a new arms package to Israel. It would be prudent to hold off on any offensive arms transfers, including this one, until a thorough investigation into the airstrike has been conducted," the lawmakers expressed.
"We strongly encourage you to refrain from authorizing these transfers if Israel does not take adequate measures to minimize harm to innocent civilians in Gaza, including aid workers, and if it hinders or unjustly limits the transportation and delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza," they emphasized.
The House lawmakers have called on the Biden administration to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the airstrike that resulted in the tragic deaths of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen organization. The letter requests that the administration temporarily suspend the provision of weapons to Israel until the investigation is concluded.
Last week, Biden had a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging Israel to take stronger measures to reduce civilian casualties and prevent attacks on humanitarian workers in Gaza.
