Democrats Seek to Bar Israel From Using U.S. Weapons

Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) and 25 Democratic co-sponsors introduced legislation Monday that would prohibit Israel from using U.S.-supplied weapons in Gaza and Judea and Samaria if it is found to be violating the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The “Ceasefire Compliance Act” would require the administration to determine whether Israel is complying with the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, including whether it has halted military operations in Gaza. If Israel is found to be in violation, the United States would block new weapons sales for use in Gaza or Judea and Samaria. Any future transfers would require Israel to formally agree that the weapons will not be used in those areas, and Washington would also seek to prevent U.S.-made systems already in Israel’s possession from being used there.

The legislation does not appear to include exceptions for Israeli strikes carried out in response to Hamas violations of the ceasefire, nor does it mention targeted operations against individual Hamas leaders. The restrictions would stay in place until Israel is found to be fully complying with the bill’s conditions. The legislation would also create a monitoring body within the administration to track whether U.S.-supplied weapons are being used in Gaza or Judea and Samaria, and would automatically expire after five years.

The bill also outlines additional conditions Israel would be required to meet. These include implementing Trump’s 20-point peace plan, allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, cooperating in the establishment of a temporary Palestinian governing body and ultimately a Palestinian Authority government in Judea and Samaria, taking “material steps” to prevent attacks on Palestinians in Jude and Samaria, and prohibiting any forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or annexation of territory in Gaza or Judea and Samaria.

In a statement, Casten said: “As one of the United States’ most important allies, Israel must ensure that its policies and the use of U.S. military assistance align with American values, interests, and the law. That starts with requiring compliance with the October 10, 2025, ceasefire agreement and the steps laid out in the 20-point plan, curbing settler violence, and rejecting annexation in the West Bank.”

The bill includes a narrow presidential waiver allowing weapons transfers that are considered “vital to the national security of the United States.” However, the president would have to notify Congress at least 15 days in advance and provide a detailed explanation for why the waiver is necessary.

The bill also explicitly states that the administration has no authority to transfer U.S. funds to Trump’s Board of Peace, following the president’s pledge of a $10 billion U.S. commitment, unless Congress specifically authorizes and appropriates the funding. It also prohibits giving the Board powers that would override or replace the authority of the United Nations.

“This bill redefines the system of US military aid to Israel, transforming it from a blank check to an accountability-based system that advances US strategic interests in the Middle East, aligns with American values, enhances Israel’s security, and protects Palestinian civilians,” Casten’s office said in a release.

The measure is backed by J Street, New Jewish Narrative and Foreign Policy for America. J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami said: “The Ceasefire Compliance Act puts into law the common sense principle that American weapons cannot be used by the Israeli government in Gaza and the West Bank in ways that fundamentally violate American values and directly contravene U.S. interests. US assistance — whether aid or arms — should never come as a blank check. The CCA will ensure the Israeli government is held to agreements it has signed and abides by the ceasefire, allows a Palestinian governing council to take control of Gaza, and cannot annex the West Bank.”

Though the bill is unlikely to advance in a Republican-controlled Congress, it reflects a growing effort among some Democrats to redefine how U.S. military aid to Israel is structured. Rather than calling for an immediate arms embargo, the proposal seeks to tie assistance to political and security benchmarks tied to the Gaza ceasefire.

The proposal signals that U.S. military aid to Israel is becoming a more contested issue within the Democratic Party, and that future weapons transfers could face increased scrutiny in Congress even if this bill does not pass.