The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), the largest caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives with nearly one hundred members, voted over the weekend to endorse a bill that would block many offensive U.S. weapons from being sold to Israel. The decision marks the first time the CPC has endorsed legislation directly tied to the Israel-Palestine conflict and signals a major shift on Capitol Hill as outrage intensifies over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
“The United States cannot continue to send bombs we know will be used to commit terrible atrocities in Gaza,” said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the CPC.
The legislation, H.R. 3565—the Block the Bombs Act—was first introduced in May by Rep. Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.) and has since gained the support of nearly fifty co-sponsors. The measure would prohibit the transfer of some of the most destructive weapons systems in the U.S. arsenal, including BLU-109 bunker buster bombs, 2,000-pound bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), 120mm tank rounds, and 155mm artillery shells. The bill makes clear, however, that it does not target what it defines as defensive systems, such as the Iron Dome missile shield.
In a statement following the caucus endorsement, Ramirez drew a direct connection between U.S. weapons and the deaths of Palestinian civilians. “Netanyahu and Trump are a lethal, unaccountable, extremist duo,” she said. “The Block the Bombs bill is the first step toward oversight and accountability for the murder of children with U.S.-made, taxpayer-funded weapons. In the face of authoritarian leaders perpetrating a genocidal campaign, Block the Bombs is the minimum action Congress must take. I am proud to be part of a caucus of progressive leaders who are challenging policies that destroy life, rob our children of futures, or dehumanize our neighbors.”
The CPC vote, first reported by Zeteo, was described as “a significant boost to efforts to hold Israel accountable for its genocidal war in Gaza.” It comes as international condemnation grows. Just last week, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel is perpetrating genocide in Gaza. Days later, the U.S. vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and resumption of humanitarian aid.
On the ground, the toll has been devastating. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israeli forces have killed at least 65,208 people and injured 166,271 since the assault on Gaza began. At least 442 people, including 147 children, have died of starvation as famine and preventable disease spread across the besieged territory.
Peace Action president Kevin Martin praised the Ramirez legislation in an op-ed, calling it the most meaningful proposal to rein in U.S. complicity in the war. “The bill is as close as we have to a de facto arms embargo on Israel,” Martin wrote, “as it would ban transfers of seven specific offensive weapons systems, from bunker-busting bombs to tank ammunition to white phosphorus artillery munitions.
“The Biden Administration’s support for Israel was bad, but predictably, Trump has been worse, accelerating transfers of bombs and guns with monolithic Republican,” Martin added, “and far too much Democratic, support, in spite of Israel’s clear violations of U.S. and international law in its mass killing of civilians and denial of life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
The CPC’s move was historic not only because of its size but because of its past reluctance to wade into the issue. DropSite News co-founder Ryan Grim highlighted the significance in a social media post: “Historically, the CPC had resisted weighing in at all on Israel because so many of its members were ‘progressive except for Palestine,‘” he wrote. “That era is fading,” he added, “this endorsement is a major signal.”
The bill arrives amid rising grassroots pressure. Recent months have seen growing calls for cultural and institutional boycotts, with national soccer federations, film industry workers, athletes, and human rights organizations launching campaigns to sever ties with Israel over its conduct in Gaza.
For many progressives, the CPC endorsement represents the first meaningful attempt by a major bloc of lawmakers to challenge decades of U.S. policy that has enabled Israel’s military campaigns. Whether the bill gains momentum beyond the caucus remains uncertain, but its introduction has already shifted the conversation in Washington.
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