After over a year of empty gestures, it’s difficult to take the Biden administration’s recent threat of an arms embargo on Israel seriously — especially when he downplays Israel’s deliberate starvation of Gazans as merely a “deteriorating humanitarian situation.” Despite mountains of evidence necessitating an immediate arms embargo, the administration gave Israel another 30 days before it would be imposed — Palestinians can’t endure another 30 days without food, water, and medical care, under the constant threat of bombs. Yet one thing is for sure: with a resolution in Congress to block arms sales to Israel, Biden's so-called 'threat' gives us the opportunity to push for real action. Let’s seize the moment.
Absent from the Biden administration’s warning to Israel was any mention of the hellish scenes in Gaza this weekend, where Israel dropped two-ton bombs on displaced people sheltering in tents outside of Al-Aqsa hospital, burning them alive. In one case, a young man who was still attached to an IV in a hospital bed awoke to himself engulfed in flames. It’s hard to reconcile the administration’s lenient notice with the reality on the ground, where U.S.-made weaponry is being used to commit genocide. The mere threat of an embargo is not enough, real change demands that we keep pushing for genuine action. There is an opportunity RIGHT NOW to demand key senators support blocking the most recent $20 billion weapons sale to Israel. Write to them now and keep the pressure on!!
CODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin and DAWN representatives have been in Congress all week delivering the petition you signed demanding the Biden Administration sanction setter groups in Palestine. They’ve shared that public pressure has made these conversations so much more effective — so thank you for taking action! We know using our collective voice works, so let’s keep the pressure on. Right now, a joint resolution of disapproval is in Congress to block weapons sales to Israel, so let’s seize this critical moment to demand Congress pass it. The conversations around an arms embargo could be the momentum we need to finally move it forward. Together, we have the power to challenge U.S. support for Israel’s brutality. Palestinians can’t wait any longer, and neither can we.
Amidst Israel’s ongoing violence, we’re beginning to see cracks in the wall of unwavering U.S. support. The Biden Administration’s threat of an arms embargo on Israel would not have been possible without your relentless advocacy and pressure. We hope you take time to recognize that.
While this step is encouraging, it’s not without its limitations. The U.S. has a long history of empty threats, and we know Israel’s bought-out supporters in Congress won’t make this easy. Together, we've kept the demand for an arms embargo alive, but the road to meaningful accountability is long. We need people like you to stay committed.
It’s up to us to make this moment count. Whether you’re sending a letter to Congress, organizing in your community, or attending a protest, every action brings us closer to justice. As the journalist Rania Khalek said in our last Missing Peace Monday session, “Whatever you’re doing, do it more, resist harder.” Our collective power is real. We’ve already made an impact — let’s keep the momentum going.
👉 In case you missed it:
- Tell Trader Joe’s to stop carrying Israeli products!
- Does Feminism Include Palestine? Read Grace and Nour’s reflections on the co-option of feminism!
- Tell VP Harris: Feminism is anti-war!
- Take Action to let journalists into Gaza!
- Join our next Missing Peace Monday session on 11/11!
- Catch the recording of the last session with Rania Khalek!
- Unmask politicians bought by Zionism!
- Sign up to organize and engage locally!
- Order our CODEPINK pink keffiyehs made in the West Bank!
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Until Liberation,
Nour and the entire CODEPINK team