The House passed legislation seeking to force the transfer of bombs to Israel that was paused by President Joe Biden. The decision to halt the weapons shipment was made in an effort to discourage Israel from its offensive on the city of Rafah in Gaza. The bill, rushed to the House floor by GOP leadership, highlighted the divisions within Washington regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. The White House and Democratic leadership worked to rally support from House members who range from moderates frustrated with any distance between the U.S. and Israel to progressives concerned with sending any weapons at all. The bill passed with a 224-187 vote, with 16 Democrats joining with Republicans in favor.
Republicans criticized Biden for pausing the bomb shipment and accused him of interfering in Israel’s military campaign against Hamas. They expressed frustration with the administration moving forward with a new $1 billion sale of weapons to Israel. The bill condemns Biden for the pause and would withhold funding for key departments until the delivery is made. However, the White House has stated that Biden would veto the bill if it passes Congress and the Democratic-led Senate is expected to reject it. Despite this, Republicans argued that passing the bill in the House would build pressure on Schumer and Biden.
The decision to pause the weapons transfer was made by President Biden over concerns that the bombs could cause significant casualties in Rafah. The Israeli campaign in Gaza has already resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 Palestinians, prompting protests and concerns about civilian casualties. The situation has ignited intense debates within the Democratic Party, with some members expressing unconditional support for Israel and others pushing back against the weapons shipments. The administration worked to convince Democratic lawmakers to vote against the bill, emphasizing Biden’s support for Israel while also advocating for the protection of innocent civilians.
House Democratic leadership aimed to discourage rank-and-file lawmakers from supporting the bill, arguing that it was not a serious effort to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. Democrats who voted for the bill showed a willingness to break from the party line, with some citing concerns from their constituents and the Jewish community in the United States. The U.S. has a long history of providing military aid to Israel, a relationship that has come under scrutiny by some progressives who view Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. Rep. Ilhan Omar expressed fear that the U.S. could be complicit in genocide by continuing to support Israel’s military campaign. The debate over the weapons shipment reflects the broader tensions within the Democratic Party regarding U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
