WASHINGTON, D.C.—This afternoon, Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in calling on their colleagues to support Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block certain offensive arms and weapons sales to Israel.  

“All of us here support Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. All of us here believe in the two-state solution. All of us believe that the relationship we’ve had with Israel is special. And all of us here are appalled at what Hamas did—to slaughter 1,200 innocent Israelis. And all of us here support the right of Israel to defend itself,” said Senator Welch at the press conference. “But what has unfolded in the name of that defense is the loss of 43,000 and rising Palestinians, many of whom are women and children and non-combatants, not at all connected to Hamas. What has happened is over 100,000 children and innocent bystanders who have been severely injured, including amputation. And what’s unfolding before our very eyes right now is mass starvation and the spread of disease.” 

“Is the United States and its foreign policy—with that commitment we’ve had to Israel—forced to be blind to the suffering before our very eyes, particularly when it’s our munitions that are being used? Should we be blind to the suffering of those Palestinian women and children when top military officials in Israel themselves have said that there’s no further military purpose for continued bombing and military activity in Gaza?” asked Senator Welch. “Our view, is no. That the humanitarian considerations are important. It is consistent with the Leahy Law, and we should enforce it. It’s consistent with international humanitarian law where the power that is occupying or in control has an obligation to facilitate—not impede—the delivery of life saving aid.” 

Senator Welch concluded: “There is no inconsistency with the United States asserting conditions on aid that are consistent with our commitment to our own policies—a two-state solution, the enforcement of the Leahy Law, the enforcement of international law.” 

View photos from the press conference below: 

Watch a livestream of the press conference here. 

The Joint Resolutions of Disapproval are expected to be considered by the Senate on Wednesday. The text of the JRDs can be found here:  

• S.J.Res.111 – to block 120mm tank rounds. 
• S.J.Res.113 – to block 120mm high-explosive mortar rounds. 
• S.J.Res.115 – to block JDAMs – which are guidance kits attached to many of the bombs dropped in Gaza. 

Read the fact sheet on the JRD process here. 

Last week, Senator Welch urged the Biden Administration to withhold offensive military aid from Israel after the Netanyahu government failed to improve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, despite clear actions outlined by the Administration. The Biden Administration ultimately announced there would be no change to U.S. policy, even with humanitarian organizations, the United Nations, and press investigations all outlining a failure to end the humanitarian crisis and comply with international humanitarian law. 

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