Progressives Urge U.S. Arms Embargo After Israel Bombs Qatar
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Israel bombed the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday, marking its sixth country attacked this year. The strike has sparked outrage among progressive members of Congress, who are now calling for an immediate halt to U.S. arms shipments to Israel.
According to officials from both countries, Israel provided advance warning to the Trump administration before carrying out the attack. However, Rep. Summer Lee, D-Penn., a vocal critic of Israeli actions, disputed this claim. "In the past two years, 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 said during a Congressional hearing on antisemitism last month.
Lee's comments reflect growing concerns among progressive lawmakers about the impact of U.S. military aid to Israel. "There must be accountability for Israel's actions," Lee emphasized. "We cannot continue to arm and fund a country that is using our support to perpetuate human rights abuses."
The bombing of Doha has reignited debates over the effectiveness of the U.S.-Israel alliance. Critics argue that continued arms shipments only embolden Israeli aggression, while supporters contend that the partnership remains essential for regional security.
Background context suggests that Israel's military actions have been increasingly brazen in recent years. In 2023, it bombed a Syrian airbase, and in 2024, it launched airstrikes against Iranian targets in Iraq. These incidents have raised questions about the limits of Israeli military action and the role of U.S. support.
Other lawmakers have also weighed in on the issue. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has long been critical of Israeli actions, stating that "the United States must reevaluate its relationship with Israel" given the country's human rights record.
In response to the bombing of Doha, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department acknowledged concerns about the incident but stopped short of condemning Israel's actions outright. "We are working closely with our allies in the region to address this situation and prevent further escalation," the spokesperson said.
As tensions continue to rise, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will be watching closely for any signs of a shift in U.S. policy towards Israel. The fate of future arms shipments remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the bombing of Doha has ignited a fierce debate about the role of the United States in regional conflicts.
Additional Developments
The U.S. Congress is set to hold hearings on the matter next week, with lawmakers expected to grill administration officials over the implications of continued arms shipments to Israel. Meanwhile, human rights groups are calling for an immediate halt to all military aid to Israel, citing the country's "systematic and widespread" human rights abuses.
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*Reporting by Theintercept.*
