Chicago – December 26, 2024
Three progressive House Democrats, known as members of the “Squad,” are calling for an end to a U.S. investigation into Spain’s actions regarding its arms policy.
Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), and Summer Lee (D-Pa.) sent a letter to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), which oversees maritime trade, criticizing the U.S. investigation into Spain’s decision to block ships carrying weapons bound for Israel.
The lawmakers argue that Spain, in denying these ships entry to its ports, is acting in line with its international obligations to prevent genocide, particularly in light of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Spain, a NATO ally of the U.S., decided to stop selling weapons to Israel after the war with Hamas broke out in October 2023.
Since then, Spanish authorities have reportedly stopped ships from docking on three separate occasions over concerns that the ships were carrying weapons for Israel. The lawmakers called the investigation an “insult” to Spain and urged the U.S. to halt its actions.
