Senate Republicans are seeking legislative measures to compel President Joe Biden to withdraw his threat of withholding U.S. military aid to Israel amidst escalating tensions with the ally over its conflict in Gaza.
Biden has pledged to stop a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs in an attempt to dissuade Israel from launching a new military campaign in Rafah, citing concerns about civilian casualties in the densely populated Gaza city housing over 1 million civilians and refugees.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) expressed the need for pushback against this decision. Republicans across the ideological spectrum are frustrated with Biden’s foreign policy approach, accusing him of sidestepping Congress and undermining their authority.
After the approval of a foreign aid package in April that included military aid for Israel and humanitarian assistance for Gazans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) played a vital role in garnering GOP support for the legislation.
Republican senators condemned Biden’s decision to halt the weapons’ delivery, accusing him of prolonging the conflict with Hamas and supporting the terrorist group. They argue that this move contradicts the legislation passed by Congress and is seen as a betrayal of Israel.
Critics, like Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), claim that Biden’s actions favor Hamas over Israel and could hinder efforts to save innocent lives and rescue hostages held by Hamas.
In response, Biden emphasized that the U.S. will continue to support Israel’s security through defense weapons like the Iron Dome missile system but will refrain from supplying weapons that could be used for offensive operations in Rafah.
Senator Graham drew parallels between Biden’s attempts to influence Israel and the U.S. dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, defending the necessity of such actions to end the war.
In conclusion, Senate Republicans are pushing back against Biden’s decision to withhold military aid to Israel, citing concerns about the impact on civilian lives and overall foreign policy implications.
