Republicans Say Civilian Deaths in Gaza Are Not a Reason to Condition Aid to Israel

Angry with Biden’s arms hold, Republicans call civilian casualties “just part of war.”

Lindsey Graham, Katie Britt, Ted Cruz
Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Katie Britt and Sen. Ted Cruz, among other Republican senators, criticized President Joe Biden for pausing certain munitions shipments to Israel. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Republicans, furious that President Joe Biden has delayed certain munitions shipments to Israel, say civilian casualties in Gaza should not be a reason to condition military aid.

“Ask every Democrat and Republican ‘Were you okay with using two nuclear bombs against Japan to end the war?’” Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters Thursday.

Biden directed the Air Force last weekend to not sign for arms bound for Israel, citing concerns about Israel’s plans to invade Rafah, where more than 1 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.