77 House Democrats Demand Full Review on Israeli Compliance with US Law

Amid ongoing military actions in the Gaza Strip utilizing American-supplied weaponry, a group of 77 Democrats from the U.S. House of Representatives has this week called on the Biden administration to perform a comprehensive evaluation of Israel’s adherence to U.S. policies and laws, including National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20) and Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act.

The initiative, led by Representatives Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), involved sending a detailed letter on Thursday to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as President Joe Biden’s term nears its final six weeks.

Since the issuance of NSM-20 by President Biden in February, his administration has consistently accepted reassurances from the Israeli government regarding the use of American weaponry, despite ongoing reports from journalists and human rights organizations that these armaments have enabled Israeli forces to kill at least 44,875 Palestinians and wound an additional 106,454 in the blockaded region over the past 14 months.

“Our concerns about arbitrary limitations on humanitarian aid and the inadequacy of delivery channels remain urgent and largely unaddressed.”

The letter from the House Democrats begins by affirming support for “Israel’s right to self-defense,” condemning the Hamas-led attack in October 2023, and supporting the Biden administration’s negotiations for a bilateral ceasefire that also involves the release of hostages—a recent agreement negotiated with the Israeli government and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

“Additionally, we denounce the unprecedented Iranian attacks on Israel that occurred on April 13, 2024, and October 1, 2024,” the letter continues, without discussing the Israeli actions that prompted these incidents. “We must strive to prevent a significant regional conflict—and we appreciate the ongoing diplomatic efforts by the U.S. and our allies to curb further escalations.”

“We are also deeply concerned about the persistent high level of civilian casualties and the humanitarian distress in Gaza,” the lawmakers stated, referring to an administration letter from October 13 that set a 30-day deadline for Israel to better the humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territories. “That deadline has passed, and although some improvements have been noted, we do not believe the Israeli government has fully met the expectations outlined in your letter.”

When questioned at a press conference on November 12 about whether the Israeli government has satisfied the administration’s requirements, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel replied, “we have not concluded that they are in breach of U.S. law.”

Shortly thereafter, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) led efforts to halt the sale of 120mm tank rounds, 120mm high-explosive mortar rounds, and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) to Israel, but these resolutions did not pass.

Progressive Democrats have been voicing concerns about the U.S. government’s involvement in Israel’s aggressive military actions and the blockade, which have been subjects of a genocide case at the International Court of Justice since October 2023. These concerns were highlighted in a May letter initiated by Crow and Representative Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) and signed by 85 others.

Referencing their earlier correspondence, the 77 House Democrats emphasized that “our concerns about arbitrary restrictions on humanitarian aid and inadequate delivery channels, among other issues, remain urgent and largely unresolved. Consequently, the civilians in Gaza are facing severe famine conditions.”

“We believe more administrative measures are necessary to ensure Israel upholds the commitments it made in March 2024 to facilitate, and not hinder, U.S. humanitarian assistance,” the letter concludes. “We remain dedicated to achieving a negotiated resolution that will end the hostilities, secure the release of remaining hostages, increase humanitarian aid, and establish the foundation for rebuilding Gaza with a legitimate Palestinian governing authority. We appreciate the continued efforts of you and the administration towards these common objectives.”