U.S. House of Representatives Votes Against Biden on Military Aid to Israel

The United States House of Representatives, where Republicans hold the majority, challenged President Joe Biden's decision to block a military shipment to Israel due to concerns over its use in the Gaza war. On Thursday, they passed a bill urging the White House to deliver the shipment to Israel. Since the bill has little chance of becoming law, it is largely seen as a symbolic move by Republicans opposing Biden's decision and his policy regarding the Gaza war. The bill, titled 'Support for Security Assistance to Israel,' prohibits Biden from blocking arms that Congress had approved for delivery to Israel. Among these weapons are 3,500 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds and 500 pounds, which the White House has prevented from being sent due to concerns about the consequences of Israel's planned attack on the densely populated city of Rafah. The U.S. Secretary of Defense confirmed that the halt in ammunition shipments to Israel was Biden's decision. Republicans argue that Biden has no right to interfere in Israel's military campaign in Gaza, while Democratic leaders in the House have called the bill another 'partisan stunt' that contradicts the President's foreign policy powers. Nevertheless, 16 Democratic representatives joined Republicans to pass the bill with 224 votes in favor and 187 against. In an unprecedented move, 13 Democrats abstained from voting in protest of Biden's policies. The bill must next be approved by the U.S. Senate, which is majority Democratic, but it has no chance there. The current war in Gaza began after the October 7 attacks by the extremist group Hamas on Israel, which left about 1,200 dead. Hamas militants also took 240 hostages, of which about half are still held. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, Israeli retaliatory attacks have left at least 35,233 dead in Gaza, the majority of whom are civilians. The White House has criticized Israel for the high number of civilian casualties in Gaza and its military's plans to attack Rafah, where over a million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge.