Following a partial suspension of arms supplies to Israel by the UK, activists in the US are pressuring the Senate and the House of Representatives to adopt a joint resolution of disapproval that would block an unprecedented $20 billion arms sale, The Guardian reported.
The UK’s decision has sparked frustration regarding US policy on Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip. The Biden administration is particularly displeased, as the UK’s stance could serve as a significant argument in the ongoing domestic debates in the US concerning the suspension of arms sales.
Annie Shiel, the US advocacy director at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, said:
It is critical that the US considers the fact that one of its closest allies has found there is a clear risk that this equipment could be used to commit serious violations of international law. That risk speaks directly to US foreign policy since that policy prohibits the US from transferring arms when it finds ‘it is more likely than not’ that the arms could be used to commit serious violations of international law. That is the standard that the UK government clearly feels has been met, and that means that the US government is flagrantly ignoring the law.
Amanda Klasing, the advocacy director of Amnesty International USA, stated that the situation of Palestinians in Gaza poses a risk of violating the principles of proportionality and distinction, which are central to humanitarian law.
There are specific weapons in which there is just no feasible way to comply with international law. What the UK tells us, what the context tells us, is that at some point the lawyers are going to raise the real significant risks associated with the US continuing to transfer weapons, she said of the use of 2,000lb bombs in densely populated areas.
The campaigners express hope that the United Kingdom’s decision will inspire more members of Congress to challenge US policy. They are seeking to garner support from many of the 50 representatives who have called for a reduction in arms supplies if Israel continues its military operation into Rafah in southern Gaza. However, for the issue to be brought before Congress, a vote must be conducted before the last full week of September. Such pressure is unwelcome for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, as she aims to navigate the contentious issue within the Democratic Party.
Previously, the US approved an arms sale amounting to $20 billion. The order includes $18.8 billion in F-15 fighter jets, $774 million in 120mm tank shells, $583 million in medium tactical vehicles, and $262 million in direct strike munitions.
