Global Ministries joins national coalition urging Biden to halt weapons sales to Israel
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ joined more than 100 national organizations in signing a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to block the delivery of $735 million in weapons to Israel.
In early May, the Israeli government used U.S.-manufactured weapons in an assault on Gaza, killing over 220 Palestinians, including at least 67 children. Israeli airstrikes displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed schools, refugee camps, international media outlets, hospitals, and Gaza’s only COVID-19 testing lab.
Amid this escalation of violence, news broke that the Biden administration had approved a $735 million sale to Israel of the same types of weapons used in the assault. Although resolutions to oppose the sale were introduced in both the Senate and House of Representatives, the State Department quietly approved the licenses before Congress could debate and vote on them. This national coalition of organizations is now calling on President Biden to halt delivery of these weapons.
The letter states, “Blocking this weapons sale will not change the reality of daily life for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation…. But halting delivery of the weapons would send a clear message that your administration is unwilling to fuel further attacks on civilians in Gaza.” It goes on to conclude, “We call upon you to immediately halt these sales, provide robust humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Gaza and engage in the sustained and impartial diplomacy needed to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting solution for both Israelis and Palestinians.”
- To read the full letter, click here.
- To read the Disciples and UCC leadership statement – and those of our partners in the region – on the crisis, click here.