Next week, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders will unveil a vote to stop the sale of weapons to Israel, a move supported by 100 human rights organizations, think institutes, and humanitarian organizations.
Washington, DC — Aya Z Shawwa, who is in her late 60s, saw the tragedy of war firsthand as Israeli airstrikes destroyed her relatives’ homes in Khan Younis city before she left Gaza for Egypt in April. Thirty-five members of her immediate and extended family perished in the February bombardment.
Bodies were discovered by residents searching through the rubble of crushed cement and mangled steel; some were completely bloodied, several had limbs severed, and others had been crushed under the weight of tons of concrete.
Shawwa says, “Israel destroyed their houses above their heads,” while speaking on the phone from Egypt to TRT World. “From elders, youngsters, and women to children from my brother’s family and his children and grandchildren, Israel spared nobody.”
Since October of last year, Israel has employed and tested a large number of US-supplied weaponry in its homicidal war against the beleaguered Palestinians in Gaza. These include the less precise dumb bombs, cluster bombs, JDAMs, extremely flammable white phosphorus, and bunker busters, which burrow through reinforced structures before detonating.
Thousands of guided bombs, missiles, fighter jets, attack helicopters, and drones have also been supplied by the United States to Israel for use in the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of about 44,000 Palestinians, the injuries of over 100,000, the destruction of houses and hospitals, and the displacement of the majority of Gaza’s 2.4 million inhabitants. Analysts contend that the precise death toll may be greater and that this is merely a modest estimate.
American Senator Bernie Sanders intends to introduce Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD) that would prevent the sale of some offensive US weapons to Israel in light of Tel Aviv’s aggression into Lebanon and the opposition to the arms embargo on Israel by US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump. The sole tool the US Congress has to stop an arms deal from moving forward is the JRD.
“There is no longer any doubt that Netanyahu’s extremist government is in clear violation of US and international law as it wages a barbaric war against the Palestinian people in Gaza,” Sanders said in a forceful statement on Wednesday.
He said that nearly all of the American armaments and $18 billion in US taxpayer funds were used by Israel in its attack against beleaguered Gaza.
“Israel has killed hundreds of civilians to eliminate a few Hamas fighters, dropped US-provided 2,000-pound bombs into densely populated neighborhoods, and failed to differentiate between combatants and civilians.” “These acts are unlawful and immoral,” he declared.
Sanders urged Congress to take immediate action to stop the arms sales, adding that the US cannot continue to support Israel’s war by giving the Netanyahu government more military equipment and assistance.
Senators are urged by 100 organizations to take action.
Sanders has received support from more than 100 organizations.
Among them is Code Pink, an American anti-war group that has led nationwide demonstrations in support of Palestine.
According to Code Pink, “this is the biggest legislative action that would be taken against Israel,” TRT World said.
“It would set a precedent for the US’ relationship with Israel that encourages accountability rather than an endless stream of weapons despite Israel’s violations of international law,” the organization stated if Sanders’ resolutions were approved.
Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch, and Sanders announced the four joint resolutions of disapproval on September 25.
The United States has given Israel unrestricted financial, military, and diplomatic backing ever since Israel began its war on Gaza. Israel’s use of US weapons in ways that are illegal under US and international law is documented in a number of reports.
Nearly 500 possible civilian injury cases involving US-furnished weaponry have been detected by US State Department officials in Gaza, but none of them have been addressed, according to the Reuters news agency.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Israeli former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on October 15 that Israel has 30 days to fix the humanitarian situation in Gaza or face strained relations with the US.
The US claims there won’t be any repercussions despite proof that Israel is still blocking funding.
People like Shawwa and their families continue to pay for Israel’s atrocities using American bombs with their lives until the US senators’ vote alleviates the misery of Palestinians.
Shawwa tells TRT World, “We have witnessed and suffered the atrocities and crimes committed by the enemy (Israel).” “Our hearts have been grieving since the beginning of the war.”
