Last month, it was widely reported that USAID and the US State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration submitted assessments to Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this year that Israel deliberately blocks humanitarian aid – food and medicine – into Gaza.  Such an assessment would automatically result in the US cutting off military assistance.  President Biden and Sec. Blinken ignored those assessments of their own staff and in May, Sec. Blinken stated in a Congressional hearing, “We do not currently assess that the Israeli government is prohibiting or otherwise restricting the transport or delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance.”  In addition to the ethical problems of denying aid to people in desperate need and setting aside such internal assessments, the continued provision of military assistance, therefore, is in violation of US law.

In addition to human death and injury, Israel’s campaign has resulted in the massive destruction of homes, communities, and infrastructure in Gaza, Southern Lebanon and Beirut.  Bombs and missiles have destroyed programs in places where our churches support partner programs, and where the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported infrastructure for many years in Lebanon and Gaza.  The irony, therefore, is that US tax-payer money has been allocated to US military aid to Israel, and US-made planes, missiles, and other weaponry is being used to destroy the lives and communities that have been built there.

The US has supported a campaign to vaccinate Palestinian children in Gaza against polio, a disease that had been eradicated there more than a quarter-century ago.  The campaign has largely been successful.  Such a model must be used to provide for the safe delivery of sufficient nutritional and medical aid in Gaza to relieve the desperate humanitarian crisis.

Since last October, the US has spent at least $17.9 billion on military aid for Israel, according to a report from Brown University’s “Costs of War” project.  In August, the State Department announced the approval of $20 billion in new arms sales to Israel, including F-15 fighter jets, medium-range, tank ammunition, and high explosive mortars and tactical vehicles. On Sept. 25, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced four Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (S.J. Res. 111, 112, 113, & 114).  If adopted, these resolutions would block the $20 billion sale.

The US must no longer supply military aid and support to Israel.  Contact your senators and representative and urge them to support this Joint Resolution of Disapproval.