Rep. Summer Lee and Rep. Greg Casar Lead 20 Colleagues in Calling for the Administration to Withhold Offensive Weapons from Netanyahu’s Government, Follow Own Standards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 17, 2024

Contact: Vaibhav Vijay, Deputy Communications Director, Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov

Rep. Summer Lee and Rep. Greg Casar Lead 20 Colleagues in Calling for the Administration to Withhold Offensive Weapons from Netanyahu’s Government, Follow Own Standards

Following the Administration’s ‘30-day letter,’ weapons transfers to Israel continue despite Netanyahu’s failure to meet humanitarian demands

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Summer Lee (D-Penn.) and Representative Greg Casar (D-Texas), along with 18 of their colleagues, are calling on the Biden Administration to uphold U.S. law and immediately suspend offensive military transfers to Netanyahu’s government.

The call comes after the Administration’s Oct. 13, 2024 letter to Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, which outlined critical humanitarian steps required for continued weapons transfers to comply with U.S. law and policy. Netanyahu’s government has overwhelmingly failed to meet these basic standards. Reps. Lee, Casar, and their colleagues urge Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to follow through on their own stated standards.

“Continuing to transfer offensive weapons to Netanyahu’s government prolongs the suffering of Palestinian families, puts Israeli lives in further danger, and risks our own national security by sending a message to the world that the U.S. applies its laws and values selectively,” said Rep. Summer Lee. “Netanyahu’s war not only isolates Israel on the global stage, but it also creates greater instability in the region. We’re urging the Administration to act with urgency—to adhere to our laws, to uphold human rights, and to stop undermining our leverage for a lasting ceasefire that saves lives.”

In their letter, the members emphasize that suspending offensive military transfers is essential to protecting innocent Palestinian and Israeli lives, prioritizing the release of hostages, securing a lasting ceasefire deal, and moving toward long-term peace.

The letter underscores Netanyahu’s government’s failure to meet the standards outlined in the Oct. 13 letter:

Humanitarian Aid Trucks:

• U.S. demand: “Enable a minimum of 350 [humanitarian aid] trucks per day to enter Gaza.”
• Reality: Since then, an average of only 42 aid trucks have entered Gaza daily, with as few as six trucks on some days.

Humanitarian Pauses:

• U.S. demand: “Institute adequate humanitarian pauses across Gaza as necessary to enable humanitarian activities.”
• Reality: Escalating violence delayed Gaza’s polio vaccination campaign. Medical professionals were denied access to northern Gaza, and a vaccination center was attacked by the Israeli military during a supposed humanitarian pause.

Ending Isolation of Northern Gaza:

• U.S. demand: Reaffirm “that there will be no Israeli government policy of forced evacuation of civilians from northern to southern Gaza” and ensure “humanitarian organizations have continuous access to northern Gaza.”
• Reality: Leading humanitarian organizations reported that the Israeli government not only failed to meet these criteria but worsened conditions on the ground. According to the United Nations, Netanyahu’s government denied 82 out of 91 attempts since Oct. 6, 2024 to deliver aid to northern Gaza, leaving roughly 100,000 people displaced.

“Simply put, Netanyahu’s government has not complied with the United States’ repeated requests to allow safe delivery of humanitarian aid to innocent people,” Rep. Lee continued. “Under U.S. law, we must suspend offensive weapons transfers when such basic standards aren’t met. Anything less undermines our own commitment to human rights and peace.”

The letter is led by U.S. Representatives Summer Lee (PA-12) and Greg Casar (TX-35), and signed by Representatives Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Cori Bush (MO-01), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Al Green (TX-09), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

The full letter can be viewed here.