88 Democratic members of Congress, including New Mexico’s Melanie Stansbury (D-NM01) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM02), penned a letter to President Joseph Biden expressing “serious concerns regarding the Israeli Government’s conduct of the war in Gaza” and pressing the president to threaten to withhold the delivery of weapons transfers just approved by Congress.
The letter reiterates support for Israel but expresses alarm over Israeli strategies impacting civilians in Gaza. “We believe that despite recent advancements, there is sufficient evidence that Israel’s restrictions on the delivery of US-backed humanitarian aid violate Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act,” the signers wrote.
The letter calls on the president to threaten to pause delivery of weapons as a part of the United State’s broader diplomatic efforts to end the seven months-long war.
After voting for the bi-partisan Israeli and Ukraine aid package last month, Vasquez explained his vote which included aid for Gaza civilians. “Support for our allies must always be in line with our American values. We must put a stop to the exponential loss of innocent lives and address the current humanitarian crisis in the region, which is why I supported the overall package. This legislation includes critical humanitarian assistance for Gaza, and I remain committed to demanding a lasting, effective ceasefire and a two-state compromise,” Vasquez stated.
Rep. Teresa Ledger-Fernandez (D-NM03) who represents Northern New Mexico did not sign the letter.