Israel's military offensive on Gaza, which followed an October 7 massacre by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, has drawn growing international criticism as Gaza health authorities report more than 33,000 people have died in the war and the narrow coastal enclave suffers widespread famine.
Support from Ms Pelosi, a veteran member of Mr Biden’s Democratic Party, for halting arms transfers to Israel shows the view is increasingly becoming mainstream within the party.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo: REUTERS
Friday's letter calls on the Biden administration to conduct its own investigation into the Israeli airstrike that killed seven employees of the aid group World Central Kitchen earlier Monday.
“Given the recent attacks on aid workers and the worsening humanitarian crisis, we believe it is unreasonable to approve the transfer of weapons to Israel,” the letter said, signed by Pelosi and 36 other Democrats including Reps. Barbara Lee, Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The Israeli military said on Friday it had fired two officers and formally reprimanded senior commanders after an investigation into the deaths of aid workers found serious errors and violations of procedures.
Mr Biden had a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, in which he said Israel needed to do more to protect civilians or the US would change its policy.
Israel's military offensive on Gaza displaced almost all of its 2.3 million inhabitants and led to accusations of genocide, which Israel later denied.
Mai Anh (according to Reuters)
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