The bill is not expected to become law, but its passage shows the depth of the US election year divide over Israel.
The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would force President Joe Biden to send weapons to Israel, seeking to rebuke the Democrat for delaying bomb shipments while urging Israel to do more to protect civilians during its war with Hamas.
The Israel Security Assistance Support Act passed 224 votes to 187, largely along party lines. Sixteen Democrats joined a majority of Republicans in voting yes, and three Republicans joined a majority of Democrats in opposing the measure on Thursday.
The bill is not expected to become law, but its passage underscored the deep U.S. election year divide over Israel policy, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government seeks to eliminate Hamas fighters who attacked Israel on September 7. October, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 people captive.
Palestinian authorities say at least 35,272 civilians were killed during Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Malnutrition is widespread and a large part of the coastal territory’s population has been left without shelter, with infrastructure destroyed.
“This is a catastrophic decision with global implications. Obviously, this is being done as a political calculation and we cannot allow that to happen,” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a news conference with other party leaders on Wednesday.
Democrats also accused their rivals of playing politics, saying Republicans were distorting Biden’s stance on Israel.
“It’s not a serious legislative effort, which is why some of the most pro-Israel members of the House Democratic caucus will vote no,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said at a press conference before the vote.
Huge casualties in Rafah
Biden suspended the transfer of the bombs this month due to concerns that the weapons could cause huge casualties in Rafah and to dissuade Israel from pursuing the attack.
In early May, Biden also told CNN that he would not “provide the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah” if Israeli forces enter “population centers.”
Human rights advocates, lawmakers and protesters across the US demanded an end to the transfers, warning the president that the weapons were being used for human rights violations and war crimes in Gaza.
Israel, a major beneficiary of US military assistance for decades, is still expected to receive billions of dollars in US weapons despite the delay of a shipment of 2,000-pound (907 kg) and 500-pound bombs, and the administration’s review Biden of other arms shipments.
Later Tuesday, the State Department moved a $1 billion arms aid package for Israel to the congressional review process, U.S. officials said.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
