Failed Iran Talks Heighten Stakes for Blocking Weapons to Israel | Palestine Policy Roundup 4.15.26
Welcome to the Palestine Policy Roundup, a weekly publication of the IMEU Policy Project.
THE HUMAN COST OF WAR: BY THE NUMBERS:
🇵🇸 GAZA: 736 killed since the beginning of Trump’s Gaza plan (Palestinian Ministry of Health); 2,073 Israeli violations of Trump’s Gaza plan (Gaza Government Media Office); 72,333 killed during Israel’s genocide (Palestinian Ministry of Health)
🇮🇷 IRAN: 3,375 killed (Iran Forensic Medicine Organization)
🇱🇧 LEBANON: 2,089 killed (Lebanon Ministry of Health); 1.1 million displaced (UN)
🇮🇱 ISRAEL: 26 killed (Israel Ministry of Health)
🇺🇲 US: 13 servicemembers killed (US Military)
❌ SENATE TO VOTE ON BLOCKING BOMBS, BULLDOZERS TO ISRAEL
This week, the Senate is expected to vote on Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) to block weapons to Israel following the collapse of ceasefire talks between the US and Iran last weekend. These votes will serve as a crucial opportunity for Senators to express their opposition to a continuation of the illegal US-Israeli war on Iran.
💡 VOTE REC: IMEU Policy Project strongly encourages Senators to vote yes on these JRDs.
BLOCK BOMBS AND BULLDOZERS: These JRDs focus on blocking the delivery of 1,000-pound bombs (S.J.Res.138) and bulldozers (S.J.Res.32) to Israel. Approving these weapons deliveries now would send a green light to Israel to continue its campaign of death and destruction across the region.
Israel has used these bombs to carry out its strikes on Iran.
Meanwhile, Israel is preparing to use bulldozers in southern Lebanon, where Defense Minister Israel Katz has declared Israel’s intent to flatten the area just as it did in Gaza.
Israel has also used these weapons in several possible war crimes and violations of international law in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. The use of US weapons in these incidents violates the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act, which should compel the immediate halt of US weapons deliveries to Israel.
📖 LEARN MORE about why the Senate should block these bombs and how Israel has already used US-suppled bulldozers to violate international law in recent policy memos published by IMEU Policy Project.
NETANYAHU IN THE SITUATION ROOM: According to The New York Times, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu–who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for his culpability in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza–lobbied President Trump into joining Israel in its attack on Iran during a visit to the White House in February.
Senators can stand with US voters by supporting these JRDs. 60% of voters now hold unfavorable opinions of Israel. A poll published by IMEU Policy Project found that 56% of US voters think the US-Israeli war on Iran benefits Israel more than it does the US.
⚠️ ISRAEL VIOLATES IRAN CEASEFIRE WITH LEBANON STRIKES
Last Wednesday, Israel killed more than 300 Lebanese in just 10 minutes in the hours following the brokering of a temporary ceasefire in the illegal US-Israeli war on Iran. This was despite the Pakistani prime minister’s announcement that Lebanon was included in the deal.
ATTACKS CONTINUED: While negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are set to begin this week, Israeli officials clarified that this did not mean an end to Israel’s indiscriminate destruction in Lebanon.
Israel’s Wednesday attacks killed Taline Saeed, a one-and-a-half-year-old girl, who was attending her father’s funeral in the Lebanese town of Srifa. Taline’s family thought that they could safely hold the funeral after the announcement of a ceasefire.
Last weekend, Israel also stepped up double tap strikes on medical and rescue workers, with at least six between Friday and Sunday. Double tap strikes which deliberately target medical and rescue workers who respond to Israel’s initial strikes are possible war crimes and violations of international law.
Among those killed by Israel over the weekend was Hassan Badawi, who was a paramedic with the Red Cross in Lebanon. The Red Cross reported that an Israeli drone targeted the ambulance that he and another Red Cross worker were operating, despite it being clearly marked and coordinated with UN authorities.
💡 COSPONSOR REQUEST: House Members should cosponsor Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s War Powers Resolution to stop US involvement in Israel’s violence in Lebanon and Rep. Delia Ramirez’s Block the Bombs Act to block weapons to Israel.
🔍 ISRAEL VIOLATED GAZA PLAN DURING IRAN WAR
BLOCKING ACCESS: A report by Al Jazeera revealed that Israel has only allowed eight percent of the agreed upon numbers of medical evacuations through the Rafah border crossing. Additionally, Israel has continued to obstruct the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Israel’s obstruction of aid violates the Trump plan for Gaza, which calls for 600 trucks of aid to enter the area per day.
Palestinians in Gaza are facing shortages of bread and fuel as prices for essential goods rise dramatically as a result of Israel’s obstruction of aid.
The deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid is a violation of Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act, which compels the halt of weapons deliveries to Israel.
ATTACKS CONTINUE: Israel bombed Gaza on 36 out of the first 40 days of the US-Israeli war on Iran, killing at least 107 Palestinians. Israel’s attacks on Palestinians in Gaza are a clear violation of Trump’s October 2025 Gaza plan, which stipulates an end to Israeli bombardment of the area.
Last Monday, Israel killed 10 Palestinians in a strike outside of a school in which displaced Palestinians were sheltering.
Israel also killed Palestinian journalist Mohammed Wishah last week. According to the Gaza Government Media Office, Israel has killed 262 journalists in its attacks on Gaza.
👀 ICYMI: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SPEAK OUT
Rep. Don Beyer: “The U.S. must immediately make clear to Israel that the ceasefire agreement is not and cannot be functional without a ceasefire in Lebanon. The American people want this war to end and bombing downtown Beirut is not a path to peace.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar on Israel’s bombing of Beirut: “Israeli bombs that the United States paid for. It is unconscionable we continue to provide aid to Israel as they continue to murder civilians and violate international law in Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank. No more money to Israel’s genocidal apartheid regime.”
Rep. Delia Ramirez: “We can't bomb our way to peace. Israel’s attacks on Lebanon must stop. Trump and Netanyahu must be held accountable. Congress must assert its authority, pass the Lebanon War Power Resolution that @RepRashida and I introduced, and BLOCK THE BOMBS!”
Rep. Chuy Garcia on Israel attacks on Lebanon: “Israeli bombardment has killed hundreds, injured thousands, and displaced millions in Lebanon. Trump must use his leverage to end the attacks and ensure ceasefire talks move forward—and Congress should pass the Lebanon War Powers Resolution to prevent Trump from dragging us in.”
Photo: mahdi313, via Shutterstock. Stock Photo ID: 2758582609