The Congressional Progressive Caucus endorsed the “Block the Bombs Act” on Sunday, the caucus’s first official endorsement of legislation directly concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In a statement, the caucus said on Sunday that members voted to approve the bill. It will stop the transfer of certain offensive weapons used by the Israeli force in Gaza until human rights abuses stop. The law specifically names heavy weapons including 2,000-pound bombs, BLU-109 bunker-buster bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits, 120mm tank rounds, and 155mm artillery shells. According to the caucus release, the measure would not affect defense systems like Iron Dome.
“The United States can’t keep sending bombs to Gaza that we know will be used to commit horrible acts,” said Rep. Greg Casar of Texas, the chair of the caucus. He complimented Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois, who was the main sponsor of the bill, and said that the vote was a vital stand by members. Ramirez added that the law is aimed to make sure that the most dangerous weapons are transferred safely and that it is “the least Congress can do.”
Amnesty International USA, which has called for support for the measure, says that the bill would stop shipments of bunker-busters, MK-80 series bombs, GBU-39 small diameter bombs, JDAM and SPICE guidance assemblies, 120mm tank ammunition, and 155mm artillery, including white phosphorus rounds, until certain conditions are met.
The caucus called Sunday’s decision a historic first for a significant congressional caucus to back a bill that would stop U.S. assistance for the damage in Gaza. The decision comes after months of internal discussion among Democrats about U.S. policy, military exports, and access to humanitarian aid. There were around 50 co-sponsors of the measure when it was released, including some of the caucus’s most senior members.
What it means
The endorsement makes the bill more visible in politics at a time when Congress and human rights groups are paying more attention to U.S. military sales to Israel. The proposal only targets certain offensive weapons, but it keeps defensive support like Iron Dome in place. This shows that the goal is to create a line between offensive bombardment and missile defense.
What’s next
The legislation still needs more support from both Democrats and Republicans to move forward in the House and Senate. The bill’s chances depend a lot on the government and the heads of important committees; neither of them had given a formal response to the CPC’s announcement. The caucus’ support keeps the bill at the forefront of the discussion about U.S. policy on Gaza and future deliveries of heavy weapons for now.
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