The Biden administration is moving forward with a new shipment of 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel, reversing its vow to suspend weapons transfers if Israel moved forward with its assault on Rafah.
The move sends a dangerous message of impunity as Israel continues its relentless war on Gaza and rejects U.S. proposals for a permanent ceasefire. It also further deepens U.S. complicity in harming Palestinian civilians. The new weapons shipment came just one day after U.S.-supplied bombs killed at least 27 people in an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians.
Meanwhile, at least 33 children have recently died of malnutrition as famine spreads through Gaza. As The Lancet, a British medical journal, warned in a new study this week, these “indirect deaths” caused by malnutrition and disease are having a far more devastating toll than even the war itself. While at least 37,000 Palestinians have been killed directly in the violence, The Lancet estimates that the actual death toll is likely to exceed 186,000 people.
As experts have long made clear, this unprecedented humanitarian suffering cannot be seriously addressed until the fighting and bombing permanently stops. This is further underscored by the failure of the U.S. humanitarian pier, which was shut down this week after three months of operational problems and did little to help those in need.
As long as the United States continues to provide the military and political support that’s enabling and emboldening Israel to continue this war, more civilians will be killed by U.S. bombs. More families will starve. The risk of escalating regional war will grow. And the United States’ global standing will continue to be further diminished.
But we must not give way to despair. Particularly as Gaza fades from the headlines, our voices are critically needed to push our leaders to stand up for peace and to finally take the actions needed to secure a ceasefire and save lives.
Elsewhere
U.S. Hosts NATO Summit as Ukraine War Drags On
As the devastating war in Ukraine continues, NATO held its 75th anniversary in Washinton, DC this week. As we continue to work to urge Congress to advance diplomacy to end the Ukraine war, we also oppose NATO expansion. More war won’t bring peace. It’s time for a new security architecture that helps to create true stability, not generate further tensions and discord.
Extreme Heat Underscores Need for Climate Action
Millions across the U.S. and the world are facing severe heat. As U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reminds us, “We cannot accept a future where the rich are protected in air-conditioned bubbles, while the rest of humanity is lashed by lethal weather.” The U.S. must step up and advance real climate solutions that support vulnerable nations facing the most serious impacts.
Iran Elections Offer Hope for De-Escalation
Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian was elected as Iran’s new president, providing new hope for the prospects of de-escalation. It is crucial that the U.S. makes good faith efforts to seize potential new chances to advance peace and diplomacy.
Events and Updates
- July 16 — An event to explore the inspiring interplay of art, advocacy, and nature in a talk with artist Susan Stair and FCNL’s Bridget Moix.
- July 31 — Join us at Friends Place on Capitol Hill or online via Zoom for a conversation about the impact and history of student activism.
- Check out Hassan El-Tayyab’s latest update on the urgent need for diplomacy to prevent a new regional war in the Middle East.
