Amnesty International USA calls on Senators to vote in favor of the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JDRs) today, which were introduced by Senators Sanders, Welch, and Merkley seeking to block certain arms sales to the Government of Israel.
“Amnesty International has repeatedly documented that U.S.-made weapons are being used by Israeli forces to commit war crimes against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip,” said Paul O’Brien, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA. “Given the administration’s unwillingness to act, Congress must urgently use its power and oversight responsibility to correct course for the sake of the human rights of the Palestinian people and vote in favor of these resolutions.”
“It is unconscionable that the Biden administration has repeatedly decided to not only allow Israeli forces to maim and kill civilians with impunity, but to continue to provide the Israeli military with the weapons to do so,” said O’Brien. “Just last week, Secretary Blinken made clear that the Israeli government would face no policy consequences for blocking humanitarian assistance despite Israel’s failure to meet the criteria listed in the letter sent jointly with Secretary Austin. Tragically, the weapons funded and provided by U.S. taxpayers have been used to wipe out entire Palestinian families and destroy city blocks in Gaza. This must stop.”
Amnesty International has documented a number of attacks with U.S.-made weapons with high civilian deaths and injuries, as well as numerous other cases that underscore an overall pattern of unlawful attacks by Israeli forces. Our research also details practices by Israeli forces inconsistent with efforts to mitigate civilian harm, provides clear examples of U.S. weapons used in ways inconsistent with international humanitarian law, the commission of torture and other ill-treatment of Palestinians held under Israeli custody, and the use of unlawful lethal force in law enforcement operations, including in the occupied West Bank.
For over a year now, Amnesty International has raised the alarm over the human-made humanitarian catastrophe, including the spread of disease and an engineered famine resulting from the total siege imposed by Israeli authorities in October 2023. In recent weeks, the Israeli military has terrifyingly escalated its efforts to forcibly displace Palestinians in the area north of Wadi Gaza while cutting off aid access to the area.
“Despite clear and overwhelming evidence, the Biden administration has refused to implement U.S. law and ensure compliance with its international responsibilities,” concluded O’Brien. “Today, Senators must leverage their oversight role and vote yes on the JRDs.”
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