Support H.R. 3565 – the Block the Bombs Act – A Statement from Jewish Voice for Peace Action. August 6, 2025 (1 of 2)

JVP delegation meeting with U.S. Congresswoman Diana De Gette in Denver. I participated. We asked her to co-sponsor H.R. 3565 the “Block the Bombs Act”. she said she would look into the bill more carefully. She also spoke of other ways to cut U.S. military aid to Israel through intervening in the budget process.

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Since October 2023, the Israeli government has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. The Israeli assault on Gaza has destroyed health clinics and hospitals, schools and universities, mosques and churches, and forcibly displaced 90% of the population from their homes. The Israeli government has put Gaza under full blockade, starving the population During this time, the U.S. has sent over $30 billion to the Israeli military that is being used to carry out atrocities against Palestinians. The only way to finally stop the Israeli government’s genocidal violence against Palestinians is to halt the flow of U.S. weapons. During this time, the U.S. has sent over $30 billion to the Israeli military that is being used to carry out atrocities against Palestinians. The only way to finally stop the Israeli government’s genocidal violence against Palestinians is to halt the flow of U.S. weapons

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(Today, August 6, 2025, marks the eightieth anniversary of the U.S. The mass destruction in that Israel- with U.S. weapons, financial and political support, dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, killing in one fell swoop some 250,000 Japanese civilians has perpetrated on Gaza, reminds one of Hiroshima. A nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East would be a worthy goal to work for. A step in that direction the Block the Bombs Act, H.R. 3565. What follows is Jewish Voice for Peace’s statement on H.R. 3565. )

Jewish Voice for Peace Action urges members of Congress to co-sponsor H.R 3565., the Block the Bombs Act. This critically important legislation was introduced by Representatives Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Mark Pocan ((WI-02). in order to block the worst offender offensive weapons – including bombs, tank rounds, and artillery shells – that are US supplied and have been involved in the mass killing of Palestinian civilians and the grossest violations of international law in Gaza. As the Israeli government escalates genocidal violence against Palestinians in Gaza, we ask that our Representatives urgently support this bill.

The Israeli government continues to rapidly escalate its starvation and killing of Palestinians, with President Trump’s full support. Israel has blocked aid from entering Gaza since March, and it is systematically working to make Gaza completely unlivable. The Block the Bombs Act is a critical step towards stopping the flow of bombs and saving lives. 

Since October 2023, the Israeli government has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. The Israeli assault on Gaza has destroyed health clinics and hospitals, schools and universities, mosques and churches, and forcibly displaced 90% of the population from their homes. The Israeli government has put Gaza under full blockade, starving the population During this time, the U.S. has sent over $30 billion to the Israeli military that is being used to carry out atrocities against Palestinians. The only way to finally stop the Israeli government’s genocidal violence against Palestinians is to halt the flow of U.S. weapons. During this time, the U.S. has sent over $30 billion to the Israeli military that is being used to carry out atrocities against Palestinians. The only way to finally stop the Israeli government’s genocidal violence against Palestinians is to halt the flow of U.S. weapons.

The “Block the Bombs Act” focuses on blocking the worst offender offensive weapons – including bombs, tank rounds, and artillery shells – that are U.S. supplied and have been involved in the mass killing of Palestinian civilians and gross violations of international law in Gaza. This legislation represents what the majority of Americans want. Major labor unions, the NAACP, the African Methodist Episcopal Church and human rights organizations have all called on the U.S. to stop sending arms to Israel.

The “Block the Bombs Act” focuses on blocking the worst offender offensive weapons – including bombs, tank rounds, and artillery shells – that are U.S. supplied and have been involved in the mass killing of Palestinian civilians and gross violations of international law in Gaza. This legislation represents what the majority of Americans want. Major labor unions, the NAACP, the African Methodist Episcopal Church and human rights organizations have all called on the U.S. to stop sending arms to Israel.

The U.S. has failed to implement existing U.S. laws that call for the halting of weapons to the Israeli military given its clear violations of international law, instead encouraging the Israeli government to operate with impunity. Now, Prime Minister Netanyahu is escalating war crimes and starvation in Gaza while simultaneously working with Trump to bring the entire region into a catastrophic war.

Congress must take back authority from the Trump Administration in order to halt the flow of deadly weapons to the Israeli military. This is the only path toward ending U.S. complicity in these atrocities, to save lives, and to create a pathway toward a just and sustainable peace for all.

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