Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and over 30 House Democrats have penned a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, expressing their concerns and calling for a reevaluation of the recent authorization of weapons to Israel. This appeal comes in the wake of a tragic incident where seven aid workers lost their lives.
The lawmakers are urging you to reconsider your recent decision to authorize the transfer of a new arms package to Israel, in light of this incident. They strongly recommend withholding any offensive arms transfers until a full investigation into the airstrike is completed. This information was revealed in a letter obtained and first reported by NBC News.
On Monday, an Israeli airstrike claimed the lives of seven World Central Kitchen food aid workers. This tragic incident has sparked widespread international outrage and has raised concerns among top U.S. officials.
The lawmakers have written a strong appeal, urging you to refrain from making these transfers if Israel does not take adequate measures to minimize harm to innocent civilians in Gaza, including aid workers. They have emphasized that it is crucial for Israel to facilitate the transportation and delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza, without any arbitrary denials or restrictions.
Over three dozen Democratic lawmakers have signed a letter urging the Biden administration to refrain from transferring arms to Israel while the investigation into the recent airstrike is underway.
Israel has acknowledged that the killing of the seven workers was a mistake and has expressed regret for the incident. Lawmakers have condemned the incident, describing it as a shockingly unacceptable mistake.
The Israeli Joint Chiefs of Staff conducted a preliminary investigation, revealing that the military mistakenly identified the workers as armed Hamas fighters. In a recent development, Israel has announced the opening of a border crossing in northern Gaza.
In a recent statement, Blinken expressed his appreciation for the actions taken by Israel, referring to them as “positive developments.” However, he emphasized that the United States will be closely observing Israel’s actions in the upcoming days and months. Echoing this sentiment, President Biden had a conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he emphasized that American policy regarding Gaza hinges on Israel’s immediate next steps.
In a letter addressed to your administration, lawmakers expressed their gratitude for the recent efforts made to enhance the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, they emphasized that these efforts alone will not be adequate to address the overwhelming need on the ground.
According to a spokesperson for Pelosi, she expressed her support for an independent investigation into the deaths of the aid workers, which is why she signed the letter.
According to a statement from spokesperson Aaron Bennett, Speaker Pelosi has expressed sympathy towards certain points raised in the letter. She strongly believes that a thorough and independent investigation is necessary to address the tragic killing of the World Central Kitchen heroes. Despite this, she acknowledges President Biden’s support for Israel and his empathy towards innocent civilians in Gaza, and she respects his judgment on how to move forward.
