Palestinian-American Representative Rashida Tlaib (Democrat from Michigan) denounced the US House of Representatives’ approval to grant Israel $14.5 billion in immediate support, so that Israel can wage its war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Tlaib said in a statement published by American media: “The American people do not support financing war crimes - such as the use of white phosphorus bombs - and call for a ceasefire.”

Tlaib adds, “While the Israeli government is carrying out ethnic cleansing in Gaza, we see President (US Joe) Biden supporting (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, whose citizens are protesting his refusal to support a ceasefire.” “We must focus strongly on saving lives, regardless of Regardless of their religion or ethnicity, the number of children killed in Gaza in just three weeks has surpassed the annual number of children killed across the world's conflict zones since 2019 — but instead of helping to end this violence, President Biden is casting doubt on... Based on the number of Palestinian deaths.

Tlaib insists, “American funding of the Israeli army without humanitarian conditions will keep us away from ending violence and reaching peace. Achieving just and lasting peace requires lifting the siege, ending the occupation, and dismantling the inhuman apartheid system,” stressing that “some of my colleagues do not want to send more weapons.” Not only do they commit war crimes and violations of international law, they want to do so by offering tax breaks to billionaires and undermining critical investments in our societies. Instead of financing more bombs with American taxpayer money, our leaders should call a ceasefire now, before this kills us. Violence kills thousands of others.

On Thursday, members of the US House of Representatives voted in favor of passing a bill on urgent US aid to Israel amounting to $14.3 billion.

226 members voted in favor of passing the legislation, while 196 members opposed it.

The Republicans in the House had proposed a plan to provide aid to Israel, by reducing funding allocated to the Internal Revenue Service.

In one of the first major political actions after new House Speaker Mike Johnson took office, Republicans unveiled a separate additional spending bill just for Israel, despite Democratic President Joe Biden's request for a $106 billion package that includes aid to Israel, Ukraine and humanitarian aid. for Gaza and amounts allocated for border security.

Johnson said that "strengthening support for Israel must top the American national security agenda" in the wake of the October 7 attacks launched by Hamas militants, which Israel said killed more than 1,400 people, while Israel has been intensively bombing the Gaza Strip since then, which... It claimed the lives of more than 9,000 Palestinians, most of them children and women.

The House on Thursday approved $14.5 billion in military aid to Israel, a strong American response to the war with Hamas, but also a partisan approach by new House Speaker Mike Johnson that poses a direct challenge to Democrats and President Joe Biden.

In a departure from convention, Johnson's package required emergency aid to be offset by cuts in government spending elsewhere. This path established the new Republican Party's conservative leadership in the House, but it also transformed what had traditionally been a bipartisan vote into one that divided Democrats and Republicans. Biden said he would veto the bill, which was approved on a largely party-line vote.

Johnson, a Republican (from Louisiana), said that the Republican package will provide Israel with the assistance necessary to defend itself, free the hostages held by Hamas and eliminate it.

Democrats said this approach would only delay aid to Israel. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., warned that the “astonishingly half-hearted” bill had no chance in the Senate.

The first major legislative effort in Congress to support Israel in the war falls far short of Biden's request for nearly $106 billion to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, along with US efforts to confront China and address security on the border with Mexico.

It's also Johnson's first big test as House speaker as the Republican majority tries to get back to work after a month of turmoil since Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted as House speaker. Johnson said he would then turn to helping Ukraine alongside US border security, preferring to process Biden's requests separately as GOP lawmakers increasingly oppose aid to Kiev.

The White House veto warning said Johnson's approach "fails to meet the urgency of this moment" and would set a dangerous precedent by demanding emergency funds that come from cuts elsewhere.