Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), along with a dozen of her Senate colleagues, announced an amendment stipulating that any country receiving weapons from the U.S. must use them in accordance with U.S. law, international humanitarian law, and the law of armed conflict. The amendment also mandates a report to Congress detailing which countries receiving military aid are meeting these criteria.
According to the draft amendment, in addition to compliance with U.S., international laws, humanitarian law, and the law of armed combat, the amendment necessitates the president to secure assurances from any country receiving weapons that they will cooperate with U.S.-supported humanitarian assistance efforts. The president is also required to provide a detailed report to Congress within a month verifying each country's adherence to U.S. end-use monitoring and compliance with the 2023 Conventional Arms Transfer Policy and the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan from the Department of Defense. The report should also detail how these countries are cooperating with U.S. and internationally supported humanitarian assistance efforts.
Hirono was accompanied by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tom Carper (D-DE), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Ed Markey (D-MA) during this announcement, according to a press release from Senator Hirono’s office.
The draft order states that the President may waive requirements on complying with prohibitions on aiding countries that restrict humanitarian assistance if it is determined to be within the security interests of the United States. In such cases, congressional committees must be notified of this determination and its reasoning. These restrictions do not apply to funds for defense systems or those used for strictly defensive purposes.
Hirono said in a news release announcing the draft amendment, "This amendment will further ensure that American aid is used in accordance with international law and American values. As we support Israel’s right to defend itself, we must continue working to create the conditions for a two-state solution and lasting peace in the region."