Senior Democrat: I want assurances before allowing F-15 sale to Israel due to ‘indiscriminate bombing’

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

US Rep. Gregory Meeks speaks during a news conference outside the USPS Jamaica station, August 18, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
US Rep. Gregory Meeks speaks during a news conference outside the USPS Jamaica station, August 18, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

A senior US Democratic lawmaker says he wants to receive assurances from the Biden administration that US weapons won’t be used for further “indiscriminate bombing” by Israel before signing off on the anticipated sale of F-15 fighter jets to Jerusalem.

“I’m waiting for assurances… I want to make sure I know the types of weapons and what the weapons will be utilized for… I think it’s enough, what has taken place in Gaza,” says Rep. Gregory Meeks, who is the ranking Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The State Department is obligated to provide advance notification to Meeks of any arms sales, and the ranking member has the ability to place a hold on those transfers.

“It’s enough of the indiscriminate bombing. I don’t want the kinds of weapons Israel has to be utilized to have more death. I want to make sure humanitarian aid gets in, and I don’t want people starving to death,” Meeks adds.

“I think that Hamas needs to let the hostages go now, and there should be proper pressure on Hamas to let the hostages go. I think that’s what the people in Israel are crying for,” he says.

https://twitter.com/bdlimm/status/1778061628363129095

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