As tensions in Gaza escalate, protesters flooded Washington, D.C., demanding Congress halt U.S. weapons sales to Israel. Clad in red T-shirts emblazoned with slogans like “Stop Arming Israel” and “Fund Housing, Not Genocide,” demonstrators gathered in the Hart Senate Office Building ahead of a pivotal Senate vote on Wednesday. The resolutions under consideration, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, seek to block the sale of tank rounds, bomb kits, and other arms to Israel as the humanitarian toll in Gaza reaches staggering levels.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 44,700 Palestinians, including at least 17,492 children, according to official estimates. However, a study from The Lancet suggests the actual death toll may exceed 186,000 due to indirect causes such as infrastructure destruction, lack of medical care, and starvation. Hospitals, food distribution systems, and basic utilities lie in ruins, compounding the catastrophe.
Health workers in Gaza, bearing witness to the devastation, sent a letter to President Biden urging an arms embargo. “We have witnessed crimes beyond comprehension,” wrote 99 healthcare professionals. Despite these calls, the Biden administration has refused to consider halting military aid, which totals $3.8 billion annually as part of a 10-year agreement. The U.S. supplied 69% of Israel’s conventional weapons imports between 2019 and 2023.
Inside the Senate building, protesters displayed banners with messages like “Fund Education, Not Genocide” before police confiscated them. Outside, chants of “1. We are the people. 2. We won’t stop fighting. 3. For Gaza’s freedom. Now, now, now!” filled the air. Capitol Police reported the arrest of 44 individuals, charging them with “crowding, obstructing, and incommoding.” Two protesters also faced charges of assaulting officers.
Prem Thakker, a reporter covering the protests, described the demonstrators as an intersectional group that included “members of faith groups, moms, healthcare workers, educators, students, [and] veterans.” Their unified demand: redirect U.S. funding to housing, education, healthcare, and climate action instead of arming Israel.
Solidarity protests erupted nationwide. In Illinois, 13 members of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) were arrested after shutting down Caterpillar’s Business and Analytics Hub. Protesters blocked escalators and elevators, decrying Caterpillar’s sale of armored bulldozers to Israel. These machines are reportedly used in demolitions across Gaza and the West Bank.
“This protest comes at a historic moment: This week Congress is set to vote on legislation to block U.S. weapons sales to the Israeli government,” JVP Chicago said in a statement. Activists also directed their pleas toward Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, urging her to support the resolutions.
Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) in September, framing them as a moral imperative. “We must end complicity in Israel’s illegal and indiscriminate bombing campaign, which has caused mass civilian death,” Sanders wrote in a letter to his colleagues. He has since garnered support from six other senators: Elizabeth Warren, Tim Kaine, Jeff Merkley, Brian Schatz, Chris Van Hollen, and Peter Welch.
Despite growing grassroots pressure, the resolutions face slim chances of passage. Even if approved by the Senate, they must survive the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and a likely presidential veto. Overriding a veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers—a daunting task.
Another legislative flashpoint involves H.R. 9495, a controversial bill that would allow the Treasury Secretary to revoke the nonprofit status of organizations deemed terrorist supporters without due process. Critics, including JVP, call the measure “dangerous and unconstitutional.” The bill has drawn bipartisan support despite its failure to pass via fast-track procedures last week. JVP warned that it “would give the incoming Trump administration the power to unilaterally shut down nonprofit organizations it doesn’t like.”
The protests reflect a shift in public opinion, with many Americans questioning the U.S. government’s unwavering support for Israel. Yet, political leaders remain hesitant to challenge a long-standing alliance. The Biden administration continues to provide arms and funding without leveraging its influence to negotiate a ceasefire.
Protesters argue this inaction perpetuates humanitarian atrocities. Their banners and chants underscore their belief that reallocating resources could save lives domestically and abroad. Messages such as “Fund Housing, Not Genocide” encapsulate their call for change.
As protesters persist in their demands, one message remains clear: the fight for justice in Gaza is not just a foreign policy debate but a moral reckoning for the United States. Senator Sanders, addressing the urgency of the resolutions, stated, “We must end complicity in Israel’s illegal and indiscriminate bombing campaign, which has caused mass civilian death.”
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