Democrats in the Senate aim to impose humanitarian restrictions on U.S. military assistance to Israel during aid package negotiations
Sen. Elizabeth Warren emphasized that U.S. military aid for Israel “cannot be a blank check to a right-wing Netanyahu government.” A group of Senate Democrats is pushing for the imposition of humanitarian and war crimes compliance standards as a requirement for foreign military aid currently under consideration for Israel by Congress.
During a Senate session on Thursday, Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin, (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), made an announcement regarding their efforts in developing legislation. This legislation will require countries receiving weapons from the U.S. to ensure that U.S. and international humanitarian laws, as well as the law of armed conflict, are being complied with.
This proposed legislation is being offered as an amendment to a $111 billion spending supplemental for new security assistance to Ukraine and Israel, as well as additional spending for allies and partner nations in the Indo-Pacific region, and funding for new border and immigration personnel. The amendment is expected to complicate negotiations on the supplemental spending bill and has sparked resistance from Republicans who argue for stricter border enforcement policy changes rather than increased spending.
Throughout the discussions, the Democratic senators have expressed concerns about the ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip by Israel against Hamas, emphasizing the need for all assistance to Israel to prioritize the protection of civilians, provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, and align with a long-term vision for peace, security, and a two-state diplomatic solution.
Addressing growing humanitarian concerns, the amendment comes as some Democrats have expressed worries about the humanitarian costs of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. However, some Democrats have pushed back on the idea of tying military aid to new humanitarian reporting requirements, emphasizing the need for unconditioned aid to an ally.
