To provide for a limitation on the transfer of defense articles and defense services to Israel.

Key Points

• The bill would block the U.S. from selling or transferring several categories of heavy weapons to Israel, including bunker-busting bombs, tank ammunition, and artillery rounds (including white phosphorus munitions). These are some of the most commonly used munitions in the current conflict.
• Before any of these weapons could be sent, Congress would have to pass a separate law spelling out the exact purposes the weapons can be used for. This gives lawmakers direct control over how U.S.-made arms are deployed.
• Israel would also need to provide written promises to the President that the weapons will be used consistently with international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and relevant bilateral agreements.
• The bill specifically lists seven categories of munitions: BLU-109 bunker busters, MK80 series bombs, GBU-39 small diameter bombs, JDAM assemblies, SPICE gliding bomb assemblies, 120mm tank ammunition, and 155mm artillery ammunition.
• The bill is sponsored by Rep. Ramirez and co-sponsored by more than 20 House Democrats. It has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs but faces steep odds in a Republican-controlled Congress.