Washington: US Rep. Bill Foster announced Monday that he has become an official cosponsor of the "Block the Bombs Act," a bill that seeks to place restrictions on US arms transfers to Israel. Foster said he had previously backed the Ceasefire Compliance Act, which would have conditioned offensive weapons transfers on changes in Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

According to Anadolu Agency, Foster expressed his support for the new legislation through US social media company X, highlighting his previous backing of the Ceasefire Compliance Act. This earlier bill aimed to withhold offensive weapons from the Israeli government unless there were changes in its policies concerning the West Bank and Gaza. Foster stated that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's refusal to change course necessitated the introduction of unconditional restrictions on arms transfers, as proposed in the Block the Bombs Act.

Foster, an Illinois Democrat, argued that US military assistance to Israel should be subject to conditions and called for a shift in US policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "The United States simply cannot continue sending unconditional military aid to the Israeli government," Foster said. He emphasized the importance of working toward a two-state solution to ensure peace, security, and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians.

The Block the Bombs Act, introduced last year by Rep. Delia Ramirez, aims to prohibit the president from selling, transferring, or exporting certain defense articles or services to Israel, except in specified circumstances. The US has faced criticism for providing support to Israel in its war in Gaza, where more than 73,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023.