The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee took the rare step Wednesday of publicly announcing a hold on the Trump administration’s $2.8 billion plan to sell 40,000 one-ton bombs to Israel.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the panel, said in a statement posted to X that he remains firmly committed to Israel’s security and its ability to defend itself, but raised concern about the risk to civilian lives, given the high death tolls throughout Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, and against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“I therefore will not clear this sale at this time. The decision does not diminish Congressional support for Israel’s legitimate defense needs; it reflects Congress’s responsibility to ensure that U.S.-funded weapons are used lawfully, responsibly, and with meaningful safeguards for human life.”
Meeks’s decision to publicize his opposition, which generally takes place behind the scenes and with an effort toward compromise, represents Democrats’ frustration with the Trump administration and toward the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.