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A majority of Republicans and Democrats are complicit in Israel's crimes against Palestinians.
Mwatana for Human Rights stated in a press release today that the United States Congress, in its session held on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, passed with an overwhelming majority of 79 votes from Democratic and Republican members, a law authorizing a new $95 billion aid package to three countries, including Israel, which will receive $26.4 billion individually. This funding includes support for missile defense systems (Iron Dome and David's Sling), defense materials and services, procurement of advanced weaponry, among others. This comes at a time when Israel is committing severe violations of international humanitarian law, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and using starvation as a weapon of war, among other violations. This is in spite of the deaths of over 35,000 Palestinians and injuries to more than 70,000 others. Additionally, mass graves of Palestinian victims have been uncovered in Gaza, settler violence against Palestinians has escalated widely in the West Bank, and the U.S. government is suppressing protests at American universities against Israel's crimes against Palestinians. This all represents further evidence of the Biden administration's and Congress's determination to continue involvement in these crimes and atrocities against Palestinians for over 200 days by allocating billions more of American taxpayer money to commit these horrific violations, instead of fulfilling their responsibility to stop these crimes, hold those responsible accountable, and address these violations.
Radhya Al-Mutawakel, Chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights, said, "The approval by members of the U.S. Congress of this aid package with an overwhelming majority from both the Democratic and Republican parties, without any consideration for Israel's dark record of atrocities against Palestinians, represents an abdication of the oversight responsibilities of Congress. It also constitutes an additional blow to human rights values and international humanitarian law, conventions, and treaties related to human rights. The vast majority of U.S. Congress members are aligning themselves with the wrong side of history, opposing human rights and the rights of the Palestinian people, and siding with the extreme right-wing Israeli government, engaging in and enabling the crimes and atrocities committed against Palestinians, and fueling wars, armed conflicts, and violence."
Since the first day of escalation in Gaza on October 7, 2023, the United States has shown unequivocal and complete support for Israel, providing unconditional backing at various levels. It has positioned itself as a warring party with its diplomatically biased stance favoring Israel over Palestinian rights at every stage. This makes the United States complicit in the crimes committed and ongoing by Israeli forces in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories for over six months. The U.S. continues to enable these crimes by providing financial aid, weapons, and other forms of military and security support. Additionally, it repeatedly obstructs international diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation, including using its veto power at the United Nations Security Council five times consecutively within six months. Four of these vetoes blocked resolutions calling for humanitarian ceasefires and allowing essential humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the U.S. vetoed once against a resolution recognizing a Palestinian state.
The U.S. administration had announced its full and unconditional support for the Israeli government in its recent war on Gaza from the first day of escalation on October 7, 2023. It disregarded various calls urging it to uphold its responsibilities in maintaining international security and peace and to push towards compliance with international humanitarian law as an active state in the international arena and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The U.S. also neglected to pressure Israel to abide by international laws and to announce a halt to its arms exports to Israel due to the use of American weapons in attacks against civilians, civilian objects, and protected facilities including hospitals, ambulances, and residential areas. Israel failed to provide sufficient assurances against the misuse of these weapons in violation of the principles and rules of international law and committed violations of the Geneva Conventions and fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.
Mwatana called on all American institutions, centers, organizations, and entities to intensify efforts to halt all forms of American support to Israel and its horrific violations against the Palestinian people, which fuel armed conflicts and wars. Mwatana also urged the international community, governments, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, activists, and human rights defenders worldwide to redouble efforts to protect the Palestinian people and empower them to exercise their inherent rights to life, security, and self-determination. Furthermore, Mwatana emphasized the need to establish a transparent and impartial mechanism for international criminal investigation and accountability for violations committed against civilians since October 7, 2023. This is essential to ensure accountability and justice for the victims within the framework of human rights values, justice, sovereignty of international humanitarian law, and international human rights law, aiming to put an end to atrocities and halt the perpetuation of wars and conflicts.
