Former Speaker of the House, Representative Nancy Pelosi, signed a letter on Friday alongside dozens of Democrats in Congress, directed at President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, demanding a halt to the transfer of arms to Israel.
The Israeli military offensive on Gaza, in response to a Hamas attack on October 7th, has drawn increasing international criticism. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that the conflict has resulted in over 33,000 deaths and has led to widespread famine in the densely populated coastal enclave.
Pelosi’s support for the cessation of arms transfers to Israel indicates a prevailing stance within the party. A key ally to Biden and a veteran member of the Democratic Party, Pelosi’s endorsement of the letter signifies a strong internal consensus.
The Congress members urged the Biden administration to conduct its own investigation into an Israeli airstrike that killed seven employees of the World Central Kitchen charity on Monday. “Given the recent strike on relief workers and the worsening humanitarian crisis, we believe it is unjustifiable to approve these arms transfers,” stated the letter, signed by Pelosi and 36 other Democratic members.
In response, the Israeli military announced on Friday the dismissal of two officers and formally reprimanded senior commanders following an investigation into the relief workers’ deaths, which concluded serious mistakes and violations of procedures had been made.
President Biden, in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, emphasized that Israel must make greater efforts to protect civilians, or the United States would reconsider its policy.
This move by Pelosi and other Democrats to question the continued support of Israel’s military efforts by the United States highlights a growing concern within the party regarding the impact of military actions on civilian populations and the necessity for accountability in conflict zones.
