U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) revealed details of a letter he sent to President Joe Biden on Wednesday to urge his administration to refrain from sending “offensive weapons” to Israel. Kaine said sending such weapons would hurt the chances of successful negotiations to secure the release of hostages taken during the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas and ease tensions with the U.S.-designated terrorist group.
Kaine’s office said the senator “underscored the importance of pursuing a deal to immediately release all hostages taken by Hamas” during the radical group’s October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, “end the violence in Gaza,” and all for the distribution of humanitarian aid.
A press release sent by Kaine’s office explained his letter was sent after reports surfaced indicating “a pending major weapons transfer from the U.S. to Israel, prompting him to request Biden ensure that the transfer is comprised primarily of defensive weapons.” The letter also urged the president against sending “offensive weapons that risk significant harm to civilians and further deepening the Gaza crisis.”
Kaine wrote in his letter to Biden, “I recommend that any transfer of arms to Israel focus on weapons enabling Israel to defend itself against future attacks from Hamas, Hizballah, Iran or other actors posing a threat to our ally. The restocking of Iron Dome and other defensive systems should be of paramount importance.”
The senator urged Biden that his administration “should be wary of weapons transfers that are likely to be used in offensive military action” due to the “delicate moment, when parties are at the table trying to find a path to de-escalation.”
While critical of the potential for the Biden administration to send Israel weapons it could use to win its war against Hamas, the senator nonetheless gave Biden credit for his efforts to end the conflict.
“Your Administration has been forward-leaning in promoting better flows of humanitarian aid and urging Israel to curb offensive military operations in Rafah,” Kaine wrote, before noting the Biden administration has “been at the forefront in focusing on a need for a short-term ceasefire with a release of all hostages.”
Kaine explained he would like to see the Biden administration achieve a “deal to release all hostages” combined with “a truce of negotiable length to enable massive delivery of humanitarian aid to Gazans” and claimed allowing such deliveries to Hamas-controlled Gaza “would be the single best path to de-escalation of tensions in Gaza and across the region.”
The letter from Kaine came the same day a report by The New York Times divulged an Israeli organization’s finding that sexual violence by Hamas against citizens of Israel were “systematic and widespread,” with the Islamic militants engaging in “brutal acts of violent rape, often involving threats with weapons, specifically directed toward injured women.”
It also comes as Americans remain polarized on the conflict, as a December 2023 poll found the majority of Americans between 18 and 24 believe Israel should be “ended” and its territory “given to Hamas and the Palestinians.”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Tim Kaine” by Tim Kaine.Â
