US House rejects arms pause for Israel

The House took a stand against President Joe Biden on Thursday by passing a bill to force the delivery of bombs to Israel, highlighting divisions among Democrats over the Israel-Hamas war.

In an effort to discourage Israel’s offensive in Rafah, Gaza, the Biden administration recently paused a shipment of 3,500 bombs, some weighing up to 2,000 pounds. This move outraged Republicans, who accused Biden of abandoning a key U.S. ally.

The bill, quickly brought to the House floor by GOP leadership, passed 224-187, with 16 Democrats joining most Republicans in favor, while three Republicans voted against it.

Republicans argued that the president should not interfere with Israel’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons. They were dissatisfied even though the Biden administration approved a new $1 billion sale of tank ammunition and other military supplies to Israel this week.

“We’re beyond frustrated,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. “We shouldn’t be telling the Israelis how to conduct their military campaign.”

The bill criticizes Biden for halting the bomb shipment and threatens to withhold funding from the State Department, Department of Defense, and National Security Council until the delivery is made. The White House stated that Biden would veto the bill if it passed Congress, and the Democratic-led Senate is expected to reject it.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “It’s not going anywhere,” but Republicans remained determined. Speaker Mike Johnson claimed that passing the bill in the House would pressure Schumer and Biden.

Biden halted the bomb transfer due to concerns about civilian casualties in Rafah. Over 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since Israel’s response to the October 7 Hamas attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostages. The United Nations warned that hundreds of thousands could die if Israel attacks Rafah.

The heavy toll in Gaza has sparked protests, including some directed at Biden. On Thursday, a group of House aides displayed a banner demanding the protection of Rafah as lawmakers entered to vote.

At the same time, moderate Democrats expressed strong support for Israel. About two dozen House Democrats signed a letter to the Biden administration, criticizing the pause in the bomb shipment.

To prevent more Democrats from siding with Republicans, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and deputy national security adviser Jon Finer called Democratic lawmakers, arguing that the bill would limit the president’s foreign policy powers. They likened Biden’s actions to President Ronald Reagan’s 1982 halt of military aid to Israel during its invasion of Lebanon.

National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said the legislation aimed to “score political points, not help Israel.”

“President Biden supports Israel and is committed to ensuring it has everything needed to defeat Hamas while protecting innocent civilians,” she added.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also urged lawmakers to vote against the bill, stating it wouldn’t strengthen U.S.-Israel relations. He supported defeating Hamas and promoting coexistence between Israel and a Palestinian state.

With the general election approaching, the speaker has focused on advancing partisan bills to challenge Democrats, including those on immigration, policing, and antisemitism.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz criticized the bill as a political maneuver and voted against it despite signing the letter opposing the bomb shipment pause. She warned it could defund U.S. national security programs.

Rep. Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, proposed a bipartisan bill requiring the president to notify Congress before pausing defensive weapon deliveries to Israel, allowing Congress to override the hold.

Sixteen Democrats still voted for the bill, including those in swing districts and strong Israel supporters. Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York and Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida cited concerns for the Jewish community in the U.S.

The U.S. has historically provided extensive military support to Israel, increasing after the October 7 attack. However, some progressives argue that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide, a claim the Biden administration rejects.

“My fear is that our government and us as citizens, as taxpayers, we are going to be complicit in genocide,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat. “And that goes against everything we value as a nation.”