New York, New York – Today, a coalition of over 95 New York-based organizations released and delivered a letter urging Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to cosponsor and vote for joint resolutions of disapproval concerning U.S. arms sales to Israel. The resolutions, introduced by Senators Sanders, Welch, Schatz, and Merkley, seek to suspend the transfer of offensive weapons, including joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs) and tank shells used in strikes that have killed thousands of civilians, including aid workers and journalists, in Gaza.
Continued U.S. offensive arms transfers point to documented violations of U.S. and international humanitarian law. The resolutions specifically target sales of weapons like joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs) and tank shells, which have been implicated in numerous civilian casualties in densely populated areas.
Etan Mabourakh, Co-Captain of the National Iranian American Council’s New York Chapter, one of the letter’s organizers stated, “As a Jewish Iranian-American this is personal and I do not want to see one more American, Israeli, Palestinian or Iranian suffer under death and destruction abetted by the unchecked flow of American weapons financed through my tax dollars”“We urge Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to support these Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) on U.S. Arms Sales to Israel the same way they supported past similar measures that protect civilian lives. In 2021, when Saudi Arabia was committing human rights violations in Yemen, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand stood on the right side of history, it is time they got back on that side. Congressional oversight and compliance with U.S. and international law cannot be ignored, and should be consistently applied to all countries we supply arms to”, said Emily Rubino, Executive Director of Peace Action New York State.
The organizations include Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith-based organizations, small business, advocacy, grassroots organizing and human rights groups reflecting the broad and united effort to support this critical legislative action. New York constituents from all across the state, across all faiths are demanding Senators Schumer and Gillibrand enforce U.S. law and protect human rights.
View the full letter below:
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