Some centrist Senate Democrats are poised to demand restrictions on U.S. security assistance to Israel, as rising death tolls and famine conditions for Palestinians have eroded support among Americans for how the Jewish state has conducted military operations in the nearly six-month war in Gaza.
Frustration has been steadily growing among Democrats about the tactics that the far-right government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has used in its war against Hamas, particularly an intense air bombardment over the densely populated Gaza Strip and the restricting of practically all aid deliveries by land.
In early February, nearly 20 Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, were ready to back an amendment to a national security emergency spending bill that would require all offensive weapons paid for by the measure to comply with U.S. law, international humanitarian law, and the law of armed conflict.
