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Middle East Eye
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Record number of US Democrats vote to block offensive weapons transfers to Israel
Two resolutions brought to the Senate floor late on Wednesday evening in Washington to block the transfer of "offensive" weapons from the US to Israel failed to advance, after more than three-quarters of the chamber shot them down. But for the very first time, a majority of the Democrats and two Independent allies supported the resolutions to block the sale of $675m in bombs and guidance kits, as well as the shipment of 20,000 assault rifles. There are a total of 45 Democrats in the Senate - plus two Independents aligned with them. The tally came to 73 to 24 on the first vote, and 70 to 27 on the second. There are 100 members in the Senate. All Republicans voted against the resolutions. Both were brought forward by Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who also pushed for a similar vote back in April. At the time, he only managed to get 15 Democrats on board. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'The United States has provided more than $22b for Israel's military operations since this war began," Sanders told the chamber ahead of the vote, citing the figure calculated by the Costs of War project at Brown University. "If you want to obey the law, vote for these resolutions," he said, pointing to the US Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, which stipulate that parties involved in human rights abuses cannot receive US weapons. "Enough is enough. Americans want this to end. They do not want to be complicit in an unfolding famine and deadly civilian massacres." Washington, he indicated, is far behind its allies in moving toward a resolution in the region. 'France and Canada have said that they will recognise a Palestinian state. The United Kingdom has said it will do so as well if Israel does not immediately end this war and surge humanitarian aid," Sanders said on the Senate floor. "And at the UN last month, 149 countries voted for a ceasefire resolution condemning the use of starvation as a weapon of war and demanding an end to Israel's blockade on humanitarian aid.' Unlikely allies Each US state is represented by two senators. In the cases of Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont, all of their senators voted to back at least one resolution: to prohibit the sale of automatic assault rifles. "These weapons would likely have been allocated to police forces under the control of Itamar Ben-Gvir," Georgia's youngest and first-ever Jewish senator, Jon Ossoff, said in a statement, referring to Israel's far-right national security minister who was condemned by the Biden administration. Former Gaza contractor says Israeli soldiers were ready to shoot starving children Read More » Ossoff did not, however, vote to block the sale of taxpayer-funded 1,000-pound bombs to Israel. "Despite my opposition to Prime Minister Netanyahu's conduct of the war in Gaza, I believe the United States must continue to support the Israeli people who face the persistent threat of rocket and missile attack and have been subjected to intense aerial bombardment from Iran, Lebanon, and Yemen," he said. "Israel's capacity to strike those who would launch missiles and rockets at Israeli civilians depends upon the deterrence provided by the Israeli Air Force." The most notable vote of support for both resolutions came from Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, who has not previously backed any such actions, and has been a longtime pro-Israel voice. Her decision appeared to have made way for other less-inclined Democrats to join in. "It is clear that the Government of Israel has not conducted its military operations in Gaza with the necessary care required by international humanitarian law," Shaheen said in a statement. "It is also clear that the Government of Israel has failed to allow adequate humanitarian assistance into Gaza, resulting in unbelievable suffering." On Thursday, the official account for Senate Republicans on X issued only this: "President Trump is correct. The only thing standing in the way of peace is Hamas, which started this war and still refuses to surrender or release the remaining hostages." Hamas has said there can be no ceasefire without the entry of sustained, adequate aid via international and trusted entities like the United Nations, and it has also said it would commit to a deal that includes a permanent end to the war, not a temporary truce. Last week, both the US and Israel abruptly withdrew their negotiating teams from Doha, Qatar, with President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff suggesting the consideration of "alternative options" for Gaza. It was unclear if he meant a pivot away from diplomacy. Israel has killed over 60,000 Palestinians since 7 October 2023. Most are women and children. Shifting view of Israel A shift in attitudes in the US is palpable, given that the largest turnout for a Democratic mayoral primary in New York City history last month was largely due to a first-time candidate who was vocal in his support for Palestinian rights. "The tide is turning. The American people do not want to spend billions to starve children in Gaza," Sanders said after the votes were tallied on Wednesday. "The Democrats are moving forward on this issue, and I look forward to Republican support in the near future." Nationwide polling has also captured this shift. In a dramatic 10 percentage point drop since a poll from September 2024, only 32 percent of Americans said they support Israel's war on Gaza, Gallup polling results released earlier this week showed. As of July 2025, 60 percent of Americans said they disapprove of Israel's military actions, and 52 percent said they see Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a negative light. The numbers were mainly driven by Democrats and Independents, Gallup said. Among Democrats distinctly, only eight percent of respondents said they approved of Israel's military action. Among Independents, that figure rose to 25 percent. Most Americans do not support Israel's war on Gaza, polling shows Read More » Among Republicans, 71 percent of respondents said they approved of what Israel was doing in Gaza. But that's not the full story. Among Trump's most loyal, outspoken, and influential supporters inside and outside of Congress, there has been a rise in aggressive questioning of why the US bankrolls a foreign country to the tune of billions of dollars each year, when that amount could be used for initiatives at home. Earlier this month, hardline America First Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene voted alongside progressive Democrats Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar to strip Israel of $500m in US funding, hours after it bombed the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza. The amendment they voted for failed to pass. "Here in America, we're $37 trillion in debt. My amendment will ensure an America First department of defence, and that is exactly what we need," Greene said. On Thursday, she took that position further in a remarkable statement for its deviation from standard Republican policy. "Yesterday, I spoke to a Christian pastor from Gaza. There are children starving," Greene wrote on X. "Are innocent Israeli lives more valuable than innocent Palestinian and Christian lives? And why should America continue funding this?" she added. "None of this is antisemitic and I, along with millions of Americans, refuse that manipulative label." She is not alone. Last month, ahead of US air strikes on Iran, Greene's former colleague in the House of Representatives, Matt Gaetz, questioned the Trump administration's motives vis-a-vis Israel. "This war isn't about Iran's nuclear weapons for Israel, it is about one thing: regime change... Does America really want to be Israel's dance partner to this siren song?" he asked on his new TV programme on the One America Network. Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News pundit who voted for Trump, has featured a string of guests on his independent online show questioning the US-Israel relationship and why pro-Israel lobbying groups are allowed to have so much influence on US elections.
Middle East Eye
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
'No Other Land' murder: Women in Awdah Hathaleen's village launch hunger strike
More than 70 women in the village where Awdah Hathaleen was killed on Monday have launched a hunger strike, calling for Israeli police to return his body and release residents arrested in the wake of his murder. Their protest comes as they say Israeli forces have raided family homes in the village each night since the killing, arresting their husbands and brothers and beating other family members. "A woman would be not properly dressed, lying in bed, and they would come in and open the door and say, 'We want your husband, we want your brother'," Ikhlas Hazalin, Hathaleen's sister-in-law, told Middle East Eye on Thursday. "Whenever they didn't find whom they were looking for, other family members would be beaten – his brother, or one of his family members – until the wanted person was brought in." Hazalin added: "I've never seen such brutality." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Awdah Hathaleen was a 31-year-old English teacher and peaceful anti-settlement activist. He was allegedly shot by an Israeli settler, previously sanctioned by the US, in a confrontation captured on video. A consultant for the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, Hathaleen's murder has made global headlines and drawn international condemnation. He is one of 16 Palestinians who have been killed by Israeli civilians in the West Bank since the 7 October 2023 attacks, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha). Ten more Palestinians have been killed in circumstances in which the UN could not determine whether the perpetrator was a member of the Israeli forces or a settler. Israeli authorities are holding his body, preventing residents in Umm al-Khair – one of a string of communities in the South Hebron Hills – and his family from holding a funeral. 'By God, we won't eat until he arrives' - Ikhlas Hazalin, Awdah Hathaleen's sister-in-law For three days, his wife and nieces have been on hunger strike, saying they will refuse to eat until Hathaleen's body is returned. At midnight on Thursday, dozens of women in the village, including teenagers and those in their 70s, joined the protest, according to local reports and Hathaleen's sister-in-law. The women were compelled to participate after Israeli authorities offered to return Hathaleen's body on Wednesday evening, but under conditions: he would be handed over at 1am and only 15 people could attend his funeral. 'We saw that they were stubborn about not releasing him and wouldn't hand him over to us except on their terms,' Hazalin said. 'These are terms we will never accept. We, the people of Umm al-Khair, will never accept them.' Escalating violence Hathaleen's killing comes as observers and human rights organisations warn of state-backed settler violence displacing Palestinian communities across the occupied West Bank, which has escalated dramatically following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. At least 2,894 Palestinians have been displaced by settler violence since January 2023, with 740 settler violence incidents recorded between January and June of this year, according to Ocha. Allegra Pacheco, head of the West Bank Protection Consortium, a group of international NGOs focused on protecting vulnerable Palestinian communities in the West Bank from forced displacement and attacks, said settler violence in the West Bank is 'completely connected' to Gaza. "The inhumanity and impunity in the West Bank are spillovers from the Gaza genocide,' Pacheco told MEE. 'What the soldiers and settlers are allowed to do, what the politicians are allowed to say… The call for destroying Gaza, for settling Gaza - all of that and the lack of public rejection of that. This is what you hear all the time on Israeli media. That's what reigns in the West Bank too.' 'The inhumanity and impunity in the West Bank are spillovers from the Gaza genocide' - Allegra Pacheco, West Bank Protection Consortium The current residents in Umm al-Khair are refugees from the Nakba, the forced expulsion of Palestinians in 1948 which led to the creation of Israel, and have been living in the village on land they purchased for over 50 years. The neighbouring Israeli settlement of Carmel was built in the 1980s on land belonging to residents. Pacheco, who was in Umm al-Khair on Thursday morning, said the residents have been facing a 'coercive environment' for years. 'No planning, water restrictions, no building, 16 rounds of house demolitions. Everything has a demolition order,' she said. 'But they've stayed. And they committed today firmly: we will stay until the last martyr.' In addition to their hunger strike, the women in the village also told Pacheco that they guarded their homes and land by themselves on Wednesday evening because there were so few men left to do it. "The Israelis arrested community members every night. They effectively were emptying the community of men and the women, in the last few nights, were on their own more and more,' she said. 'Every night, the men have this guard shift where they guard the houses from settlers. Last night, there were so few men that the women decided as a group [that] we have to do one of these shifts because there are no men left.' She added: 'I said to them, 'What would you have done if a settler had come?' A woman said, 'I don't know, but God gave me this sense of power that I could do anything and I just did it.'' West Bank 'emergency' Yinon Levi, the settler accused of killing Hathaleen, was previously sanctioned by the US under the Biden administration, but sanctions were lifted by President Donald Trump in January. The UK and the EU still have sanctions on Levi in place. On Tuesday, a court in Jerusalem released Levi from custody and placed him under house arrest. Israeli settler accused of killing No Other Land activist released under house arrest Read More » "This is the perversion of justice and of the narrative,' Pacheco said. 'The people who were injured are in prison. The people who tried to prevent this are in prison. The people who acted in self-defence are in prison. And the guy with the smoking gun - the guy who shot the gun on video - is sitting at home and drinking coffee.' She called on international leaders to provide a protection force for Palestinians in the West Bank immediately and not wait until September, when France, the UK, Canada and others are set to formally recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. 'People will be dead by then. We are in an emergency in the West Bank,' she said. In Umm al-Khair, the women say they hope their hunger strike will be effective for this moment. "Perhaps, God willing, we can pressure them and there will be pressure to hand him over to us. The men also supported us and said they would join us within 24 hours if they don't hand him over," Hazalin said. "By God, we won't eat until he arrives."
Middle East Eye
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Portugal joins states considering recognition of Palestinian state in September
Portugal has joined a growing number of countries considering the recognition of the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's office said on Thursday that the government would consult with the president and parliament before making a final decision. Portugal 'is considering recognition of the Palestinian state, as part of a procedure that could be concluded during the high-level week of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, to be held in New York in September,' the statement read. It also cited "the extremely worrying developments in the conflict, both from a humanitarian perspective and through repeated references to a possible annexation of Palestinian territories" by Israel as its reason behind the decision. Following the announcement, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said: "The government took a very carefully considered decision in consultation with its European and other partners." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The plan follows similar announcements by France and the UK to formally recognise Palestine. On Wednesday, New Zealand and Australia also signed a declaration suggesting they may follow suit in the coming months. The declaration, known as the New York Call, was published by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. It states that 15 countries will 'reiterate our unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution, where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognised borders'. Canada joins France and UK with plan to recognise Palestinian state Read More » Signatories include Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, and San Marino, all of which have not yet recognised an independent Palestinian state. Other signatories, such as Iceland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Slovenia and Spain, have already officially recognised the State of Palestine. Israeli officials have condemned the plans to recognise a Palestinian state, describing them as a reward for terrorism. Last week, Israel's parliament approved a motion calling for the annexation of the occupied West Bank, the latest move in an ongoing campaign to strengthen Israel's hold on the occupied Palestinian territory. The proposal is non-binding and serves largely as a symbolic gesture that does not affect the legal status of the West Bank, but will help build momentum towards a possible move on the territory, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967. The wave of recognitions comes amid growing international discontent with Israel's conduct in its war on Gaza, which has been described as genocide by several states and prominent rights groups. Israel's near-total blockade of Gaza has led to dozens of deaths from malnutrition in recent weeks. Since the war began in October 2023, at least 159 people have died from malnutrition, including 90 children. In total, Israeli forces have killed more than 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including 18,500 children, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Middle East Eye
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Syrian foreign minister in Russia for first meeting since Assad's overthrow
Syria's foreign minister said his country wanted a 'correct and sound' relationship with Russia on Thursday as he visited Moscow in an apparent attempt to mend relations with the erstwhile enemy. In December, Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebels and he fled to Russia, which had been his staunch ally during the 14-year Syrian civil war. Moscow has had decades of close ties with Damascus, which deepened during its ultimately unsuccessful military intervention on Assad's behalf. These included several economic agreements. On Thursday, Syria's new foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, spoke with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov about maintaining agreements struck with Assad's government, as well as the future of Russia's military bases in the country. 'The relationship between nations is a historical and humanitarian one, but some governments are spoiling this relationship,' Shaibani said at a news conference. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'We are here today to represent the new Syria, as we want to establish a correct and sound relationship between the two countries based on cooperation and mutual respect.' He added: 'Of course, there are a number of factors that determine and complicate these relations on the ground.' Russia's naval base in Tartus and its airbase at Hmeimim are Moscow's only official military outposts outside the former Soviet Union. They were key to Russia's support of the Assad government, which prevented his overthrow for many years after the 2011 uprising. Lavrov said Moscow was ready to help Syria rebuild after more than a decade of devastating conflict and to review 'agreements and contracts concluded under different conditions', and said their decision to remain allies 'doesn't depend on the political situation or changes of government'. Neither minister said whether there had been any discussion of the status of the military bases. Assurances Despite providing a haven for Assad, Russia has quickly moved to try to build connections with the new government in Syria. Footage released in January appeared to show Russia removing vehicles and containers from its base in Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. Why Syria needs to play the long game against Israel Read More » Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke for the first time in February, with the former saying he was ready to reconsider agreements signed between Russia and Syria under Assad. 'Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's invariable readiness to help improve the socio-economic situation in Syria, including the provision of humanitarian aid to its residents,' the Russian presidency said at the time. Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra is also part of the delegation to Moscow. In February, he told the Washington Post that this government was open to allowing Russia to retain its bases if there were 'benefits for Syria'. The status of Assad, however, could remain a sticking point. Shaibani called on Russia to support a 'transitional justice' process in Syria, possibly referencing Assad's presence in the country. He also said Syria had formed a committee to review existing agreements with Russia. In January, Sharaa reportedly requested Russia extradite Assad. The Russian government refused to comment on the matter at the time. Israeli attacks Shaibani's discussions with Lavrov also touched upon Israel's recent attacks on southern Syria. Since the fall of Assad, Israel has repeatedly bombed Syrian military targets, and invaded even more Syrian territory than the Golan Heights it occupied in 1967. Earlier this month, Israeli attacks intensified, which Israel said were done in support of the Druze minority. However, the raids only raised communal tensions, which broke out into sectarian clashes that killed about 1,200 Druze and Bedouin Syrians. Speaking alongside Lavrov, Shaibani said that Israel's attacks on Syria posed a serious threat to his country's recovery 'These attacks not only represent a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, but also disrupt the process of reconstruction, exacerbate the suffering of civilians, and fuel cycles of violence and instability,' he said. 'We have received a commitment from Russia to reject these attacks and stand with Syria to prevent these violations.' Lavrov concurred with his counterpart and called on members of the international community to help de-escalate the situation. 'We have always been against the use of Syrian territory as an arena for geopolitical conflicts to settle scores between various countries,' he said. Russia and Israel have had a close working relationship in Syria, where Israeli attacks repeatedly struck Hezbollah and Iranian-linked targets. In 2019, Russia helped recover the remains of an Israeli soldier buried in Syria.
Middle East Eye
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Recognition of a Palestinian state should not be a pawn in a diplomatic game
On 29 July, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain would recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, "unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long-term sustainable peace". Of course, any British recognition of the state of Palestine, if and when it happens, would mark a historic moment. Britain bears a unique responsibility as the author of the Balfour Declaration and the mandatory power in Palestine. If recognition does take place, it would reinforce the British government's stated support for a two-state solution, after decades of recognising only one state, Israel, while denying the other. It would chart a trajectory that rejects Israel's attempt to impose a one-state apartheid reality across the whole of historic Palestine. It would set the terms for any future peace process, in which the end goal must include a Palestinian state, reaffirming the British government's stated commitment to a two-state solution, as outlined in its announcement. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters So why were Palestinians and others not out on the streets celebrating the British government's announcement that emerged from an emergency recall of the cabinet? Empty gesture It is worth revisiting the statement that outlines the conditions under which Britain has said it would recognise Palestine. The cabinet decision stipulates that recognition will proceed only if Israel fails to meet a series of conditions: it must commit to a ceasefire and take action to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including "allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank". Netanyahu could, if he wished, respond: fine, go ahead and recognise Palestine - but you will be recognising a dream, not a reality The result is a surreal formulation: recognition of the Palestinian right to statehood and self-determination is no longer treated as a right, but as something conditional on Israeli intransigence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could, if he wished, respond: fine, go ahead and recognise Palestine - but you will be recognising a dream, not a reality. Yet the announcement also presents options for Hamas. Contrary to the simplistic anti-Palestinian narrative that this would be a "reward" for Hamas - that it could block a ceasefire and still secure recognition - many within the Palestinian national movement see it differently. Although Hamas did accept the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a two-state framework in its modified charter of 2017, it has had little interest in pushing for this as a goal. For the resistance group, such a move reeks of the despised Oslo process. Still, Hamas does not want an already discredited Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to gain credit among Palestinians for any recognition. Vague demands Looking closely at the British conditions on Israel, Starmer's team has embedded enough vague language to allow the prime minister considerable leeway. What are the "substantive steps" Israel must take in Gaza? This is never clarified. There is no requirement that Israel withdraw its forces. These decisions are left to Starmer's interpretation. Israel is asked to commit to a "long-term sustainable peace", yet there is no mention of a two-state solution in that vision, let alone an end to the occupation. The language is so vague as to be meaningless. On the very day that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) determined that Gaza is experiencing famine - brought on by an Israeli policy of starvation - the British government demanded only that Israel "allow" the UN to resume humanitarian deliveries. But the UK has been making this demand for months. Why would it succeed now? Worse, this statement is even weaker than the previous ones. "Allowing" the UN to deliver limited aid is not the same as demanding full, unimpeded access for all humanitarian agencies. The UK also insists that Israel must commit to a ceasefire. But what kind? A temporary truce, as the Israeli government has long sought, or a permanent one that Hamas is demanding? If Netanyahu claims to accept specific US terms for a ceasefire - terms that Israel likely helped shape - would that be enough to claim Israeli compliance? Even before this announcement, Netanyahu may have been planning for a ceasefire by the end of August, having spent a month mopping up what remains in Gaza. Follow Middle East Eye's live coverage of the Israel's war on Gaza What else is left to bomb? He could declare an end to military operations while keeping his forces on the ground. He knows the war is unpopular in Israel. He can claim victory and shift the focus to the West Bank. He can allow limited aid to enter Gaza through the UN, just enough to reduce starvation deaths. As for the West Bank, the British conditions are hardly stronger. Netanyahu need not announce annexation any time soon. Settlement expansion can continue - including the doomsday E1 project - without violating any of the terms outlined by Starmer. Non-negotiable There is no reason that Britain's recognition could not have happened in July. Imagine how much more powerful it would have been if France and Britain had stood together at the UN, announcing recognition with solemn conviction. President Emmanuel Macron and Starmer could have shown real leadership. Instead of recognising 'Palestine', countries should withdraw recognition of Israel Joseph Massad Read More » Yet the most egregious failure of the announcement lies in the absence of any sanctions on Israel for its conduct in Gaza, even as it continues its genocide. Sanctions should have been imposed, with the possibility of suspension only if Israel met a clear and enforceable set of demands, including full, unimpeded humanitarian access. That is where conditionality ought to have been placed. Instead, the British government has been reduced to airdropping aid into Gaza - the least effective and most dangerous method of humanitarian delivery. The fittest will get it first; the neediest will get it last. British weakness is on full and painful display. Recognition of a Palestinian state should never have been subject to negotiation. It is not a tool to punish Israel. It is a right to be upheld, not a pawn in a diplomatic game. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
