US Aid to Israel Reaches New Heights, So Do Palestinian Child Casualties
When news outlets report on a 15-year-old Palestinian boy, Yamen Samed Hamed, killed in an Israeli raid in the West Bank, it's presented as a tragic standalone event. Yet, this tragedy is not an isolated incident. Since 2022, the Biden administration has approved over 100 foreign military sales to Israel, including precision-guided munitions and massive bomb packages, often bypassing congressional
review. Many of these sales were greenlit by politicians like Senator Bob Menendez, who, according to OpenSecrets, received significant contributions from pro-Israel PACs. These approvals aren't just paperwork; they're direct endorsements. For instance, the 2024 National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act included $14.1 billion in military aid for Israel. Congress members who consistently
vote for such aid packages often have deep financial ties to organizations like AIPAC. One might wonder if the endless cycle of 'raids' and subsequent civilian deaths might be, in some small part, fueled by the steady flow of advanced weaponry, rather than a few rocks thrown by teenagers.