From left, US Rep. Ilhan Omar and Sen. Bernie Sanders listen as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, right, speaks at an event in June 2019. (Photo by AP)
A group of US lawmakers say they no longer want to be complicit in the Israeli regime's genocidal war on the besieged Gaza Strip and total blockade of the Palestinian territory, calling on Washington to halt its military assistance to the occupying entity.
Legislators on Tuesday condemned the administration of President Donald Trump for the increasing military assistance to Tel Aviv, demanding an arms embargo against Israel and an end to US support for the occupying regime.
The calls come as Israel has resumed its airstrikes on the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, killing more than 400 Palestinians in the past few days, following a weeks-long ceasefire that had temporarily halted the genocidal war launched against the territory in October 2023.
Senator Bernie Sanders called for an end to US military aid to Israel, saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Netanyahu has not allowed any food, water, or fuel into Gaza in two weeks.”
“Now he has resumed bombing, killing hundreds of people and breaking the ceasefire that had given Gaza a chance to live again,” he added.
Congressman Greg Casar, for his part, denounced the Israeli blockade on Gaza, saying that the Israeli regime “has started bombing Gaza again, in violation of the negotiated ceasefire, after blocking food, water, and aid for weeks.”
The US "must stop sending offensive weapons" to Israel, he said, adding, "We cannot continue to be complicit in Netanyahu’s assault on Palestinian families."
Lawmakers also called for an immediate arms embargo against Israel.
“Netanyahu has blocked aid to Gaza for two weeks. Last night, he ordered strikes that killed over 400 Palestinians, endangered hostages, and broke a fragile ceasefire,” said Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“Congress must uphold our laws and stop further weapons transfers to Israel,” she demanded.
Under Trump, the US has continued supplying Israel with billions of dollars in weapons, including 2,000-pound (907kg) bombs. On February 7, Washington authorized the sale of over $7.4 billion in bombs, missiles, and other military equipment to Israel.
“The Israeli apartheid regime has resumed its genocide, carrying out airstrikes all across Gaza and killing hundreds of Palestinians,” Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib wrote on X, stressing that Israel would never stop until there are sanctions and an arms embargo.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar echoed that sentiment. She stressed that “Netanyahu has shattered the ceasefire agreement, indiscriminately killing hundreds of people in Gaza.”
“Arms embargo NOW,” she demanded.
Congresswoman Summer Lee, for her part, while highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stressed that “Israel has consistently violated the ceasefire and cut off all aid to Gaza ... This US-backed genocide must end.”
The calls come amid increasing backlash against US support for Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 48,500 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, since October 2023.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes, as Israel simultaneously stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice.
