{
  "id": 8509744,
  "title": "In Rare Move, Democrats Try to Block a Sale of Bombs to Israel",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/in-rare-move-democrats-try-to-block-a-sale-of-bombs-to-israel",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T17:58:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mother Jones",
    "slug": "mother-jones",
    "url": "https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/democrats-block-bombs-to-israel-shaheen-meeks-gaza/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In an unprecedented development, prominent Democrats on the House and Senate foreign affairs committees have vowed to halt a $2.8 billion deal to supply Israel with 60,000 one-ton bombs. Although this move carries limited authority beyond the procedural, it highlights a burgeoning apprehension within the Democratic Party that US-armed weapons may be utilized to perpetrate war crimes.\n\nRep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, invoked an informal committee hold on the arms deal. This tactic essentially halts the transaction, providing legislators the opportunity to gather further information. Meeks expressed his reservations to The Guardian, stating that the Trump administration has not sufficiently assured that these weapons will be used by the Israeli government in compliance with US law and civilian protection. \"I therefore will not clear this sale at this time.\"\n\nOn the Senate front, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire has been withholding her consent for the arms sale since July. Shaheen, who serves as the ranking member of the Senator Foreign Relations Committee, harbors unresolved concerns regarding the potential usage of these bombs in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza, as well as their role in escalating the conflict with Iran. As reported by Semafor, Shaheen's apprehensions extend to the broader situation in the West Bank, where settler violence is leading to the displacement of Palestinians and the disruption of essential infrastructure.\n\nAlthough the Democratic opposition does not fully nullify the sale, as the President holds the power to overrule the hold, it does complicate the path towards what would be the largest single taxpayer-funded arms transfer to Israel in recent years. This bipartisan stance underscores the Democratic Party's growing estrangement from the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under indictment by the International Criminal Court for the crime of genocide in Gaza.\n\nThe gravity of the situation is evident with an estimated 73,000 deaths in Gaza since October 2023. In April 2026, a Pew Research Center poll indicated that 80% of Democratic voters held an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 53% in 2022. Shaheen emphasized to CNN, \"We don't like what's happening in the West Bank where settler violence is killing Palestinians, sending them out of their homes, disrupting basic infrastructure. And the Netanyahu administration has basically done nothing to address that.\"\n\nMeanwhile, Netanyahu is gearing up for a trip to the United States, scheduled for September 23rd at the United Nations in New York City. He is expected to face protests upon his arrival. Although former New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani previously vowed to arrest Netanyahu during his campaign, he no longer believes he has the legal authority to do so. However, he has stated that Netanyahu is \"not welcome in New York City.\"",
  "summary": "The top Democrats on the House and Senate foreign affairs committees this week announced their intent to block a $2.8 billion sale of 60,000 one-ton bombs to Israel. It’s an unusual move—and one with limited power beyond the procedural sphere. But it shows that even pro-Israel Democrats are concerned that US-funded weapons are being used […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Democrats seek to block $2.8B arms deal to Israel.",
    "Rep. Meeks invokes informal hold on transaction.",
    "Sen. Shaheen opposes sale due to concerns over Gaza conflict."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}