STORY: The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would force President Joe Biden to send weapons to Israel on Thursday (May 16).
The move is seen as a rebuke to Biden for delaying bomb shipments, as he urges Israel to do more to protect civilians during its war with Hamas.
The House approved the Israel Security Assistance Support Act largely along party lines.
Some sixteen Democrats joined most Republicans in voting yes.
Republicans accused Biden of turning his back on Israel after facing widespread pro-Palestinian protests.
While House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said before the vote that the Republican-led action was not "a serious effort at legislation", and that even some of the most pro-Israel Democrats would turn it down.
The act is not expected to become law, but its passage underscored the deep U.S. election-year divide over Israel policy.
The ongoing conflict had begun after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killed around 1,200 people and seized over 250 hostages.
Israel's subsequent campaign in Gaza led to over 35,000 civilian deaths, according to Palestinian authorities.
Despite delays from the Biden administration, Israel is still due to get billions of dollars in U.S. weapons: The State Department on Tuesday moved a $1 billion package of weapons aid for Israel for congressional review.
