Senate votes this week on halting some arms shipments to Israel

November 18, 2024

Please take a minute today to send a message to your senators to vote in favor of a set of Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block the sale of many offensive U.S. weapons to Israel. The bills are expected to come up for a vote later this week.

Additional background: There is no military solution that will produce lasting peace in Gaza. Rather than solidifying a ceasefire, Congress and the Biden Administration continue to allow military sales and shipments virtually unabated to Israel. Since October 7, 2023, the Biden Administration has sent over 600 arms shipments including more than 10,000 highly destructive 2000-pound bombs. In August, Congress approved a 20 billion USD military sale including 50 F-15 fighter jets.

Israeli military offensives now include the West Bank and Lebanon with airstrikes, forced displacement, and extrajudicial killings. Israel, with U.S. support, is escalating toward an all-out regional war. In Lebanon, by mid-November, more than 3,000 had been killed and more than 1.2 million displaced, risking a full collapse of the Lebanese state.

The destruction of Gaza, with the full support of the Biden Administration, is nothing short of apocalyptic. All universities in Gaza, along with most hospitals, 85% of school buildings, 60% of residential buildings, and 80% of commercial facilities have been severely damaged or destroyed, along with 57% of Gaza’s agricultural land. Since October, more than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed, over 102,000 have been injured, and at least 10,000 are missing under the rubble, with some estimates putting the number dead at more than 186,000. At present, experts estimate it will take 14 years and 30-40 billion USD to make Gaza livable again.

Faith reflection: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8, NRSVUE).”

Ways you can take action:

(1) Urge your senators to halt arms shipments to Israel and push for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. 
(2) Support ongoing nonviolent Anabaptist actions by connecting with organizations such as Mennonite Action.

Photo above: Al-Najd Developmental Forum staff unload emergency food that has just arrived in Gaza for distribution to families in Deir al Balah and surrounding areas. Photo courtesy of Al-Najd Developmental Forum.