November 20, 2024

Duckworth Statement on Senator Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, issued the following statement after voting against Senator Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval regarding foreign military sales to Isreal:

“Since this war broke out, I’ve been outspoken with my disgust over the Netanyahu government’s brutal prosecution of its war in Gaza, as well as its utter failure to prioritize securing the release of all remaining hostages and its outrageous refusal to act with urgency and seriousness to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians—many of whom are children.

“But I'm also deeply aware of the very real threats posed by Iran, Hezbollah and the Houthis to U.S. servicemembers deployed in the region. Those threats weighed heavily on my deliberations over the votes regarding these three symbolic resolutions—resolutions that, counterintuitively, could actually embolden Hamas and Hezbollah to escalate this crisis rather than help bring an end to it.

“These votes ultimately reflect my ironclad commitment to prioritizing U.S. national security interests and keeping our troops as safe as possible, but they in no way detract from my consistent, focused efforts—working closely with aid groups, doctors and our own government—to press the Netanyahu government to do much more to secure the release of hostages and broker a lasting, mutual ceasefire in the region that ends the suffering in Gaza.”