H.R. 3565, commonly known as the Block the Bombs Act, is a proposed Act of Congress introduced in 2025 to prohibit the President of the United States from "selling, transferring, or exporting certain defense articles or services to Israel, except in specified circumstances."
| Block the Bombs Act | |
|---|---|
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| United States Congress | |
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| Introduced by | Representative Delia Ramirez |
| Introduced | May 21, 2025 |
| Status: Pending | |
Provisions
editThe law requires arms sales to Israel be in "accordance with international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and relevant bilateral agreements".[1]
Legislative history
editThe Block the Bombs Act was introduced on May 21, 2025 by Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois with 21 original co-sponsors.[2][3] As of March 2026, the bill has 63 Democratic co-sponsors.[2]
In February 2026, 26 Democratic representatives led by Sean Casten co-sponsored the Ceasefire Compliance Act, to bar US-origin weapons from being used in the West Bank and Gaza unless Israel meets defined conditions for compliance.[4][5] Casten noted the Act was "additive" to the Block the Bombs Act.[5]
As of June 4, 2026, the bill has 73 co-sponsors, including Republican representative Thomas Massie.[6][7][8]
Reaction
editNon-governmental organizations (NGOs)
editIn June 2025, the Center for Constitutional Rights issued a statement in support of the Act, writing "The Block the Bombs Act is a historic bill that prohibits the transfer and sale of specific U.S. weapons to Israel that the Israeli government has consistently used to commit atrocities against Palestinian civilians in violation of both international and U.S. law."[9] That month, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a statement in support, writing "Congress must act immediately to ensure U.S. weapons are not used in the massacre of Palestinian civilians and the destruction of their communities."[10]
The American Jewish Congress criticized the Act, writing that "Such legislation poses a serious risk to Israel’s security at a time when the country is fighting on multiple fronts—working to bring hostages home and protect its citizens from ongoing threats."[11]
In February 2026, Amnesty International released a statement in support of the Act, recommending "All Representatives urgently co-sponsor H.R. 3565".[12][13]
Margaret DeReus, the executive director at the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU), said that "We are coming from such a deficit, where Congress has been so lacking in the courage to do what’s right, that this is actually a huge improvement from where we were," adding it was important to "mark the progress" of the bill.[6]
2026 elections
editIn January 2026, Jack Schlossberg, Democratic candidate for New York's 12th congressional district said he was "unsure" about supporting the Act in a candidate questionnaire for the Working Families Party.[14] Schlossberg's campaign team leader said he was the "only candidate" seeking to block "bombs and bulldozers" to Israel.[14] On June 9, 2026, Schlossberg announced his support for the Act.[15]
In February 2026, Brad Lander, Democratic candidate for New York's 10th congressional district, authored an op-ed in The Nation titled "To Build Bridges, We Must Block the Bombs", advocating for the Act.[16][17]
References
edit- ↑ Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3 (May 21, 2025). "Text - H.R.3565 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): To provide for a limitation on the transfer of defense articles and defense services to Israel". www.congress.gov. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - 1 2 Tabachnick, Toby (April 27, 2026). "Deluzio cites Iran war concerns in supporting limits on U.S. weapons sales to Israel". jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Ramirez, Jacobs, Jayapal, Pocan, 18 Members of Congress Introduce Legislation to Condition Weapons to Israel, Save Lives | Representative Delia Ramirez". ramirez.house.gov. June 5, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
- ↑ Rod, Marc (February 24, 2026). "With J Street backing, 26 Democrats introduce legislation to impose wide-ranging conditions on aid to Israel". Jewish Insider. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
- 1 2 "As Americans Sour on Aid to Israel, Jewish Anti-Occupation Groups…". Jewish Currents. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
- 1 2 Harb, Ali. "Block the bombs: Support grows for US bill to restrict arms for Israel". Al Jazeera. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Ramirez, Members of Congress, Advocates Commemorate the One -Year Anniversary of the Bipartisan Block the Bombs | Representative Delia Ramirez". ramirez.house.gov. June 5, 2026. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
- ↑ "CAIR-Texas and CAIR Action Texas Commend Congressman Christian Menefee for Co-Sponsoring Historic "Block the Bombs Act"". June 4, 2026. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Center for Constitutional Rights Supports Historic Block the Bombs Act". Center for Constitutional Rights. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
- ↑ "CAIR Action Alert: Urge Congress to Support the 'Block the Bombs Act' and End Complicity in Israel's War Crimes". June 5, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Cosponsors of the "Block the Bombs" Act Targeting Israel - Jewish Political Guide". September 11, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
- ↑ Usmani, Sameena (February 10, 2026). "Congress Must Co-Sponsor the Block the Bombs Act". Amnesty International USA. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
- ↑ Usmani, Sameena (June 4, 2026). "Block the Bombs, Save the Lives". Amnesty International USA. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
- 1 2 "At posh, private club, Schlossberg shifts view on Israel". POLITICO. May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
- ↑ Kassel, Matthew (June 10, 2026). "Jack Schlossberg comes out in support of Block the Bombs Act". Jewish Insider. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
- ↑ Lander, Brad (February 10, 2026). "To Build Bridges, We Must Block the Bombs". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
- ↑ "In New York, a Rift in Jewish Politics". Jewish Currents. Retrieved May 30, 2026.