WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) has cosponsored U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD) to block the sales of certain offensive weapons to Israel. The JRDs would prohibit the U.S.-financed sale of $675 million for bombs and guidance kits, plus 20,000 fully automatic assault rifles to Israel. The Senate is expected to vote on the JRDs tonight.  

“The Israeli-inflicted starvation of Palestinians in Gaza must end. This bombing campaign, which has killed and wounded tens of thousands of people and destroyed Gaza, must end. We cannot continue to be complicit. History will judge us for not standing up against this humanitarian catastrophe and these war crimes,” said Senator Welch. “The United States needs to say: Enough.” 

Yesterday, Senator Welch spoke on the Senate floor about the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and the need for the United States Senate to take immediate action. He condemned Hamas, pushed for a ceasefire, and demanded the release of the remaining hostages. Senator Welch also rejected the Netanyahu government’s illegal use of starvation as a weapon of war.  

“We all condemn Hamas. We all want the release of the remaining hostages. But we have to ask ourselves the question: is it at all justifiable that there is a policy that has to be recognized that starvation is being used as a tool of warfare? I reject the legitimacy of that act. It’s a war crime, Mr. President. It’s a war crime to starve a population to get what you want from your enemy, as righteous as your defense against an enemy may be,” Senator Welch said in his remarks… “We cannot separate the current starvation in Gaza from the Netanyahu government’s strategy of forcibly displacing Palestinians from their land.” 

Watch his remarks here: 

The text of the JRDs can be found below:    

• S.J.Res.34 – To prohibit the U.S.-taxpayer financed $675.7 million sale of 201 MK 83 1,000-pound bombs; 4,799 BLU-110A/B General Purpose 1,000-pound bombs; 1,500 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits for MK 83 bombs; 3,500 JDAM guidance kits for MK 83 bombs; and related logistics and technical support services. 

• S.J.Res.41 – To prohibit the sale of tens of thousands of fully automatic assault rifles. 

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