Amnesty International USA urged members of Congress today to pass four Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders in the U.S. Senate that would block specific weapon sales to the Israeli government.
“Over the last year and a half, Amnesty International has repeatedly provided extensive evidence that Israeli forces have used U.S.-origin weapons in violation of international law, as well as U.S. law and policy,” Paul O’Brien, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA. “With each passing day and each consecutive arms shipment, the risk of complicity in genocide and other serious violations of international law of the United States increases. Now is the time for members of Congress to take their oversight role seriously and vote yes on these Joint Resolutions of Disapproval.”
Amnesty International found sufficient basis to conclude that Israel has been and continues to commit the crime of genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip. And in a number of cases, Amnesty International found U.S. made weapons have been used in deadly and unlawful attacks on civilians and civilian objects by Israeli forces throughout Gaza.
Israeli authorities have also deliberately inflicted conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza. Israel’s actions, omissions, and policies have brought Gaza’s population to the brink of collapse. Through the blocking of aid and enacting a complete siege on Gaza, the government of Israel has imposed conditions of life in Gaza that created a deadly mixture of malnutrition, hunger, and diseases, and has exposed Palestinians to a slow, calculated death.
“Israel’s genocide and its unlawful air strikes and humanitarian aid blockage have caused tens of thousands of deaths and unprecedented suffering in Gaza,” said O’Brien. “Congress must acknowledge the U.S. government’s role and urgently step in to block further transfers of U.S.-origin weapons to Israel when there is a grave risk that these weapons will fuel further violations of international law, including the crime of genocide.”
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