Palestinian Americans lobby US lawmakers at Capitol over Gaza policy amid reported $2.8bn arms transfer

Palestinian Americans held an advocacy day at the United States Capitol in Washington, DC, pressing lawmakers to change US policy on Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Organisers said more than 300 constituents met with offices representing more than 100 members of Congress from 26 states. The event took place as reports circulated that the Trump administration had approved a new $2.8bn arms transfer to Israel.

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The advocacy was organised by Americans for Justice in Palestine Action, which said participants raised a slate of legislative concerns. Those included Israel's war in Gaza, rising Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank, and efforts to use immigration law to restrict Palestinian advocacy in the United States. Several participants said they wanted lawmakers to hear directly from Palestinian American constituents about the impact of US policy.

Among those meeting staff and lawmakers was 19-year-old Jenna Escheik, who said she was speaking with offices including those of Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Representative Rob Wittman of Virginia. She said the message was that participants were proud to be American but did not want taxpayer money going to wars. Another participant, Yaseen Shaikh, 22, said he was meeting offices including those of Republican Senator Jon Husted, Republican Senator Bernie Moreno and former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio.

The gathering comes amid a broader debate in Washington over military aid to Israel and the extent to which the United States should condition that support. Successive administrations and Congress have resisted calls for such limits for decades, including during Israel's latest war in Gaza. The reported arms transfer has added urgency to that debate, particularly among activists seeking to link foreign policy decisions to domestic political pressure.

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The issue also carries humanitarian and legal significance because the war in Gaza has produced a large civilian toll and sustained international scrutiny. The supporting material says nearly 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023, with nearly 1,400 killed since a ceasefire agreement began to unravel. It also says the conflict is approaching its three-year mark early next month, underscoring how long the war has shaped US policy arguments.

The advocacy day also reflected the growing role of Palestinian American civic organising in Washington. By bringing constituents from multiple states to Capitol Hill, organisers sought to turn the issue into a direct electoral and legislative concern. The presence of participants from places including Virginia and Ohio suggested an effort to reach lawmakers across party lines and in competitive political environments.

The immediate outcome of the meetings was not clear, and the supporting material does not indicate whether any lawmakers changed position or committed to specific action. It also remains unclear how the reported arms transfer will proceed or whether Congress will move to challenge it. What to watch next is whether the advocacy campaign leads to new legislative proposals, public statements from lawmakers, or further mobilisation around Gaza, the West Bank and immigration-related restrictions on Palestinian advocacy.

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