Leftwing Democrats in Congress are raising concerns over the Biden administration's emergency military aid program for Israel, citing the violation of human rights under a landmark law. According to a report in The Guardian, members of the Democratic party's progressive wing are invoking the Leahy Act to challenge the $14.3 billion aid package pledged by the White House.

The Leahy Act, sponsored by former Democratic senator Patrick Leahy and passed in 1997, prohibits the US defense and state departments from providing assistance to foreign governments facing credible accusations of human rights abuses. While initially focused on narcotics assistance, the law was later expanded to include security assistance from both state department and Pentagon budgets.

Leftist Democrats argue that Israel's retaliation against Gaza after the 7 October attack by Hamas, which killed over 1,400 Israelis, has overwhelmingly harmed civilians. The Gaza health ministry, run by Hamas, estimates that approximately 9,000 people have been killed, including 3,700 children.

Several governments, including key US allies like Turkey, Colombia, and Mexico, have reportedly been denied assistance under the Leahy Act due to human rights concerns.

Proponents of applying the Leahy Act to Israel point to the rising death toll in Gaza from military strikes, the displacement of more than 1 million people, and the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by Israeli authorities cutting off water, food, fuel, and electricity supplies.

Congressman Andre Carson of Indiana expressed concern over potential violations of human rights and emphasized the need to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used inappropriately or in violation of US and international law. Despite these concerns, the Biden administration has stated that it will not place any limits on how Israel uses the military aid provided by the US.

The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has so far rejected calls for a ceasefire and has not responded to requests for a humanitarian pause. Leftwing Democrats continue to push for scrutiny over US funding for Israel, with some highlighting alleged violations such as the use of white phosphorus, which is considered a war crime.

Calls for scrutiny over US funding for Israel preceded the current conflict in Gaza. Last year, Democrat Betty McCollum introduced a bill to prohibit US funds from being used to enforce Israeli occupation policies in the West Bank. While the bill has not passed, it was endorsed by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other civil society groups.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont condemned Israel's Gaza campaign as morally unacceptable and a violation of international law. However, he stopped short of opposing Biden's assistance program, instead demanding certain conditions, including the right of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes and the abandonment of efforts to annex the West Bank.

Sanders, along with five other Democratic senators, expressed support for approving Biden's proposed overall $106 billion aid package to Israel, Ukraine, and other foreign crisis areas. They also sent a letter to Senate leaders asking for more information about Israel's long-term plans and goals in Gaza.

As the debate continues, leftist Democrats are intensifying their efforts to ensure that US military aid to Israel complies with human rights standards outlined in the Leahy Act. The outcome of these challenges could have significant implications for US-Israel relations and the future allocation of military assistance.