Amnesty International USA demanded today that President Biden and the United States Congress immediately suspend all transfers of weapons to the government of Israel.
The Biden administration has continued to provide weapons at a rapid pace despite the overwhelming evidence that war crimes are being committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip using U.S.-made munitions. While Palestinians in Gaza remain at risk of genocide and an imminent Israeli government-engineered famine, President Biden last week authorized the transfer of 1,800 MK84 2000-pound bombs that one senior administration official said, “can destroy entire blocks.” According to news reports, the President is also getting close to greenlighting a sale of $18 billion for American-made F-15 fighter jets.
“The written assurances recently submitted by the Israeli government stating that they aren’t violating international humanitarian law with U.S. weapons are simply not credible, and it’s shocking that the U.S. government is going along with their statement while our research and international law experts disagree,” said Paul O’Brien, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA. “The President must put an end to U.S. complicity and do what he should have done long ago: immediately suspend the transfer of weapons to the government of Israel. The time to act to prevent genocide is now.”
Amnesty International investigations have repeatedly shown that U.S.-made weapons are being used by Israeli forces to commit war crimes against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. And now, the Israeli government intends to expand its military operations on the ground in Rafah, where over 1.3 million Palestinians – including at least 610,000 children – are sheltering.
“It’s unconscionable that this administration continues to give weapons despite clear evidence of war crimes and other atrocities being committed by Israeli forces,” continued O’Brien. “Members of Congress must do their part and stop sending billions of dollars in military funding and weapons to the Israeli government.”
The news of more arms transfers comes on the heels of devastating news of seven World Central Kitchen staff members being killed in Gaza, which brings the total toll of aid workers killed in Gaza to at least 203.
“World Central Kitchen staff were attacked while they were attempting to distribute much needed food in an area that is currently being deliberately starved by the Israeli government, said O’Brien. “Aid workers must not be targeted. Civilians must not be targeted. Yet, administration officials have said that the State Department has not found any incidents where Israeli forces have violated international humanitarian law in Gaza. When will President Biden realize he is complicit in the Israeli government’s crimes against humanity? Enough is enough. President Biden must use the immense leverage of the United States to bring about an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the unlawful siege and blockade to save lives.”
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