Elizabeth Warren and 18 Democrats demand information about ‘highly unusual’ US arms transfers to Israel that took place WITHOUT congressional approval in a letter critical of Sec. Blink

Democrats express concern about Biden’s response to Israel’s war in Gaza and criticize the administration for transferring weapons to Israel without congressional approval.

In a letter Speaking to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 19 Democrats rejected the administration’s decision to repeatedly use emergency authorities to “circumvent Congressional review.”

The lawmakers wrote that they shared “the world’s disgust” with Hamas over the October 7 terrorist attack, but they were also “deeply disturbed” by Israel’s response.

It is the latest move by Democrats, who have become increasingly critical of the Biden administration’s response to Israel’s war in Gaza.

“It is highly unusual for the President to circumvent Congressional oversight through an emergency declaration,” the letter said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel on January 9, 2024

It says this authority has only been used 18 times in nearly 50 years, but the Biden administration has used the authority twice in one month.

“It is essential that Congress can monitor these arms transfers and determine whether they are consistent with humanitarian principles and U.S. law, and whether they promote or harm U.S. national security,” the lawmakers wrote.

More than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 65,000 injured since the October 7 attack on Israel, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza.

The letter, dated January 26, was signed by nineteen lawmakers, including Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, as well as Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Maxine Waters of California.

The lawmakers refer to the Arms Export Control Act, which requires the State Department to notify Congress of major arms sales, and states that the review can only be waived if Congress is notified of an emergency.

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Congressman Jayapal of Washington are among 19 lawmakers who sent a letter to Blinken about an arms deal

Search and rescue in Gaza after an Israeli airstrike on January 29, 2024

“We appreciate that your administration has repeatedly urged the Israeli government to take additional steps to reduce civilian casualties,” the lawmakers wrote.

“We are concerned, however, that these transfers and the administration’s evasion of congressional oversight may be inconsistent with broader U.S. foreign policy objectives.”

They demand that the Biden administration provide its rationale for establishing an “emergency” to carry out the immediate transfers to Israel.

They also asked why the administration believes Israel needs 155mm artillery ammunition such as the one approved in December that organizations have warned poses a serious risk to civilians, and whether the U.S. will provide Israeli forces with capabilities to counter the further limit damage to the civilian population.

Lawmakers have asked the Biden administration to provide answers to these and other questions by February 9.

The letter comes as Biden is reportedly considering using arms sales as a means to convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back his attack on the Gaza Strip.

Sources told NBC News that the Pentagon has been instructed by the Biden administration to assess what weapons Israel has requested that could be used as leverage to scale back their military assault on Gaza.

Biden is also reported to have done so Netanyahu personally said he will not support Israel’s year-long war in Gaza.