United States Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) plans to introduce legislation blocking a proposed $20 billion arms deal with Israel as the Jewish state embarks on its second year fighting Hamas in Gaza.
The effort seeks to invalidate an August purchase agreement, sanctioned by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, that provides the IDF with 50 F-15 fighter jets, 50,000 mortar shells, 33,000 tank rounds, and allocates more than $500 million to acquire tactical vehicles.
In addition to the affected consignment of aircraft, ammunition, and motorized assets, the U.S. Congress has approved at least $17 billion in taxpayer-provided defense assistance to Jerusalem since the start of the conflict in the coastal enclave.
In a Wednesday letter to lawmakers, Sanders stated the U.S. must not be “complicit in this humanitarian disaster,” while asserting that “much of this carnage in Gaza has been carried out with U.S.-provided military equipment.”
The Senator’s correspondence comes as Israel’s military leadership has always maintained their forces operate under strict codes of conduct that seek to minimize civilian casualties.
The resolution, which is unlikely to pass in the chamber, could be voted on as early as next week.
