Israel Security Assistance Support Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 8369 because Joe Biden did the right thing. He made the right decision.

The United States is a friend to the people of Israel. The United States is not a rubberstamp to an extremist Prime Minister who has not prioritized the release of hostages, who has allowed for indiscriminate killings in Gaza, and who has put his own political survival above all else.

Chairman McCaul said something I think that was very important. After October 7, the world stood with Israel, expressed support for Israel. I believe all of us did in a bipartisan way.

What has happened since then? Prime Minister Netanyahu has ruined the world's support. He has done so by not focusing on the hostages, but by allowing his military to bomb hospitals, ambulance convoys, people's homes, to take out journalists, aid workers, including Americans. The moral compass does not bend in favor of one nation regardless of what it does. That is why the President has done what he has done, and the President's leverage matters.

When President Biden has taken steps to exercise his leverage, we have seen immediate results. Last month, President Biden told Israel to open the Erez Crossing in northern Gaza, and 3 days ago, dozens of WFP flour trucks entered through the western Erez Crossing, bringing desperately needed food to starving families.

After the President paused a 2,000-pound bomb shipment, less than 1 percent of the total weapons shipments to Israel, the Israeli Defense Minister raised concerns for the first time that Netanyahu has no plan to rescue the hostages or establish a functioning Palestinian Government in Gaza.

This, in many ways, is our last chance. We must do the right thing ourselves.

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