Washington, DC, November 21, 2024 – The US Senate voted last night on S.J. Res 111, S.J. Res 113, and S.J. Res 115, which would have blocked certain arms transfers to Israel. In response to the vote, CIVIC’s US Advocacy Director Annie Shiel said:

“For over a year, the Israeli military has used US weapons to kill and maim Palestinian civilians and withheld humanitarian assistance in clear violation of US law. The continued flow of weapons has sent an unambiguous signal of US support for Israel’s campaign of carnage and starvation in Gaza and made the United States complicit in this harm.

The Biden administration has repeatedly refused to act to protect civilians in Gaza, and we welcomed the resolutions introduced by Senators Sanders, Merkley, and Welch to suspend several arms transfers to Israel in light of repeated apparent violations of international and US law and policy.

“It is shameful that, after tens of thousands of lives lost, a majority of the Senate voted to continue unconditional US support to Israel in the face of catastrophic harm ongoing in Gaza. Yet we also commend the unprecedented 19 members of the US Senate who came together in this historic vote to stand up for Palestinian civilians and uphold US and international law.

“We reiterate our call for the United States to end US arms transfers to Israel and use its leverage to bring about an immediate ceasefire.”

The Joint Resolutions of Disapproval were supported by over 110 organizations, who wrote to members of the Senate in October urging them to vote in favor of the bills in light of repeated apparent violations of international and US law and policy.

In addition to the United States, CIVIC calls on all UN Member States to immediately halt the transfer of weapons to Israel and Palestinian armed groups in light of the risks such arms will be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, a call echoed by over 250 organizations.

Additional Resources:

• Joint Resolutions of Disapproval and Civilian Harm Risks from Related Arms Sales to Israel
• Factsheet: Israeli Forces’ Misuse of Guided Bomb Units
• Factsheet: Israeli Forces’ Misuse of 120mm and 155mm Artillery
• Arms Sales Accountability Project

For additional information or media inquiries, please contact:

• CIVIC’s global media team: [email protected]