Over three dozen House Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, signed a letter Friday pressing the Biden administration to stop sending weapons to Israel following a drone strike that left seven aid workers dead in Gaza.
The letter, also signed by Reps. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, James McGovern of Massachusetts, and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois underscore the divide in Congress on supporting Israel in its war with Hamas as the civilian death toll in Gaza rises.
The lawmakers called for an end to arms transfers to Israel until an independent investigation into the Israeli Defense Forces’ drone strike of World Central Kitchen aid workers, which killed seven people — including an American — is completed.
“Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu has stated that this was a ‘tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people,’” the lawmakers wrote to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “If this is true, it is a shockingly unacceptable mistake.”
They continued, “We strongly urge your administration to conduct a thorough investigation into this airstrike to determine how the aid convoy could have been mistakenly targeted despite coordinating their movements with the Israeli military and traveling in clearly marked vehicles.”
Pressure from the lawmakers comes after Mr. Biden had a tense phone call Thursday with Mr. Netanyahu in which the president said U.S. policy in Gaza hinges on Israel’s ability to take “specific, concrete and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers.”
Mr. Biden also pressed for a six-week cease-fire to allow for the freeing of hostages.
Getting aid into Gaza has proved difficult since fighting began after Hamas’ Oct. 7 slaughter of Israelis, and the United Nations has warned of an impending famine in the war-torn region.
The IDF fired two officers and reprimanded senior commanders following the strike on the aid workers, but the congressmen said that’s not enough to quash growing concerns or to continue providing arms to the Jewish state.
“In light of the recent strike against aid workers and the ever-worsening humanitarian crisis, we believe it is unjustifiable to approve these weapons transfers,” the lawmakers wrote.