Background
Israel’s use of indiscriminate weapons in Gaza’s densely populated areas has had devastating consequences, particularly for children. Since October 2023, over 11,000 children are estimated to have been killed, with thousands more injured or left with life-altering disabilities. The conflict has orphaned an estimated 17,000 children and destroyed over 120 schools, disrupting the education of 625,000 students. Healthcare in Gaza has collapsed, with 30 out of 36 hospitals bombed and only 10 partially operational. These attacks inflict deep scars on communities, undermining any hope for stability and peace. The United Nations Secretary-General stated that “Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children.”
U.S. laws, like the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, are meant to prevent our country from sending weapons to nations that commit human rights abuses or misuse U.S. arms. However, reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch show that these laws are being violated. In Gaza, they’ve documented war crimes and crimes against humanity, including civilian deaths, forced displacement, and the destruction of essential infrastructure. By continuing to supply weapons used in these actions, the U.S. is not only breaking its own laws but also fueling cycles of violence. . To uphold its laws and promote peace, the United States must halt arms sales to Israel and ensure its military aid complies with both domestic and international standards.
In response to these concerns, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced several Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) to block over $20 billion in proposed U.S. arms sales to Israel. Introduced in September 2024, these resolutions aim to prevent the transfer of offensive weaponry implicated in civilian casualties in Gaza. The JRDs are Congress’s only mechanism to stop an arms sale from moving forward.
The U.S. government cannot take a proactive role in fostering durable and lasting peace in Israel and Palestine while continuing to supply Israel with weapons used in violation of U.S. and international law.
As Christians, we believe that every human being is made in the image of God and that we are called to be peacemakers in a broken world. Before Congress concludes its work for the year, it is critical that your elected officials hear from you.
Join Advent not Arms Campaign
We are joining Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and other ecumenical partners in the “Advent not Arms” campaign this Advent season (through Orthodox Christmas). The campaign will feature alerts and events that call for a suspension of arms sales to Israel and push for a comprehensive permanent ceasefire and an end to all violence. Click here to find out more.
