Magaziner Statement on Co-Sponsoring H.R. 3565 to Stop the Transfer of Certain Offensive Weapons to Israel

“Today, after much reflection, I cosponsored H.R. 3565, a bill to stop the transfer of certain offensive weaponry from the United States to Israel. I have taken this action to do my part to pressure Prime Minister Netanyahu to implement a ceasefire in Gaza, allow significantly increased humanitarian aid into Gaza, and to stop the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.

This was not a decision I arrived at lightly. As a person of Jewish heritage, I strongly support the existence of Israel as an independent state and a refuge where Jews from around the world can live in safety. The current war was initiated by Hamas, a bloodthirsty terrorist organization that continues to hold innocent hostages and must be brought to justice. Israel has a right to defend itself from attacks like the horrific atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and I remain sickened by the rise of antisemitism in our country and globally in recent years, including at times in the anti-war movement.

Nevertheless, we are well past the point where a continuation of the war in Gaza serves the best interests of Israelis, Palestinians or Americans and the United States must exert pressure on Netanyahu to change course.

The acts of terror committed by Hamas are horrific. But injustice does not justify injustice, and the prolonged suffering of civilians in Gaza must end. From the early days of the war, credible reports emerged of the Israeli Defense Forces utilizing massive 2,000-pound bombs in densely populated urban areas, killing civilians at an unacceptable rate. The Israeli government has also withheld food and medicine from the civilian population in Gaza, causing mass suffering.

The Israeli government claims that the Hamas-controlled authorities in Gaza exaggerate the death toll from the conflict and the extent of the famine. But it is impossible to verify these claims because the Israeli government refuses to allow independent journalists into Gaza without IDF escort.

The continued war in Gaza puts Israelis at risk as well, as the actions of the Netanyahu government have significantly eroded the global support that has been vital to Israel’s security for decades.

At the same time, extremist settlers in the West Bank continue to act with impunity, killing civilians including five Americans, with no legal consequence. Israeli cabinet ministers speak openly of permanently annexing both the West Bank and Gaza and expelling the millions of Palestinians who have called those areas home for generations. 

In April of 2024, I joined 85% of my colleagues in Congress in voting to provide military assistance to Israel. I did so, mindful of the deadly threat that Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, and other bad actors posed to the civilian population in Israel and across the region.

But over the past year and a half, the situation has changed. Thankfully, the military strength of Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah have all been significantly degraded. At the same time, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and lawless killing of Palestinians in the West Bank have reached crisis levels. Netanyahu has presented no plan for achieving peace and appears to believe that the United States will comply with his every whim. It is time to try something different.

I will continue to support defensive systems like Iron Dome that protect civilians, as well as targeted actions to remove what remains of Hamas, but I will not support providing the Netanyahu government with additional offensive weaponry until food and medicine are surged into Gaza, Netanyahu presents a workable proposal to end the war that ensures the safety and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians, independent journalists are permitted to report from Gaza, and rule of law is enforced impartially in the West Bank.

This is an issue that ignites passion among many Rhode Islanders. The trauma of October 7 continues to weigh on many in the Jewish community, and the images of children suffering in Gaza shock the conscience. My approach will continue to be to use whatever influence I have to end the war and build a future in which Israelis and Palestinians can live in a lasting and secure peace.”