Progressives Demand Halt to US Arms Shipments to Israel Amid Doha Bombing

Progressives Urge U.S. Arms Embargo After Israel Bombs Qatar A bipartisan group of progressive lawmakers is calling for a halt to U.S. arms shipments to Israel following the country's sixth attack this year, which targeted the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday. Rep. Summer Lee (D-Penn.) led the charge, stating that "Israel has bombed nation after nation with no repercussions, all while conducting a genocide and manufacturing a famine in Gaza using U.S. taxpayer dollars." She emphasized the need for accountability from Israel and an end to U.S. support. According to officials, Israel provided advance warning of the strike to the Trump administration, which has been criticized by some as a tacit endorsement of Israel's actions. The attack drew condemnation from human rights groups and sparked renewed calls for a U.S. arms embargo on Israel. The bombing of Doha marks the latest in a series of high-profile attacks carried out by Israel this year, with previous targets including Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. Critics argue that these actions are facilitated by billions of dollars in annual U.S. military aid to Israel. In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., stated that "Israel has every right to defend itself against threats from its neighbors." The embassy also emphasized that the strike on Doha was aimed at disrupting Iranian-backed militant activity in the region. The U.S. State Department and Pentagon have yet to comment on the situation, but lawmakers are pushing for a full review of U.S.-Israeli relations. Rep. Lee and other progressive members of Congress argue that continued support for Israel's military actions is morally and strategically misguided. As the debate over U.S. arms shipments to Israel continues, human rights groups are calling for greater accountability from both countries. "The U.S. must stop enabling Israel's aggression with its military aid," said a spokesperson for Amnesty International. *Reporting by Theintercept.*