The US House of Representatives, in which the Republicans have the upper hand, voted yesterday a largely symbolic measure aimed at forcing the Democratic President Joe Biden to resume arms supplies to Israel, BTA reported.
Biden announced earlier this month that he had requested a delay in bomb deliveries to Israel because of concerns for civilians in a large-scale offensive against the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
The decision to temporarily halt a shipment of 2,000 lb (907 kg) and 500 lb (226 kg) bombs was made because Washington, Israel's top military backer, is opposed to a major Israeli offensive in Rafah, reports AFP .
The measure adopted yesterday has no prospects of becoming law. In theory, it would prevent Biden from freezing any military aid to Israel approved by Congress.
"The president and his administration must immediately reverse course and stand with Israel," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said in a statement.
The vote came as the Israeli government announced an increase in military ground operations in Rafah despite international concerns for the civilian population.
According to Republicans, President Biden has no right to interfere in the way Israel conducts its military campaign.
They accused Biden of turning his back on Israel after facing numerous pro-Palestinian protests.
"This is a catastrophic decision with global consequences. It's obvious that it's a product of political calculations, and we can't accept that," Mike Johnson said at a press conference with other party leaders, quoted by Reuters.
Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives described the Republican initiative as a political stunt aimed at preventing the president from carrying out his foreign policy.
Still, 16 Democrats joined Republicans to pass the bill, opposing the head of state.
Agencies note that the measure is unlikely to pass the Democratic-dominated Senate. Biden, in any case, has promised to veto it.
The temporary suspension of aid to Israel applies only to some of the military equipment supplied by the United States. On Tuesday, the US government notified Congress that it would supply the country with weapons worth about one billion dollars.