Palestinian Americans lobby US lawmakers as Trump approves $2.8bn arms transfer to Israel

September 23, 2026 at 02:30 AM2 min

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More than 300 Palestinian American constituents met with over 100 US lawmakers' offices on Tuesday to oppose a $2.8bn arms transfer to Israel. The advocacy day, organized by Americans for Justice in Palestine Action, targeted legislative initiatives on Gaza, West Bank settler violence, and immigration enforcement. The meetings took place as the Trump administration reportedly approved the weapons package, including 20,000 MK-84 bombs.

Key Facts

More than 300 constituents from across the US met with offices of more than 100 lawmakers on Tuesday, according to Americans for Justice in Palestine Action.
The Trump administration reportedly approved a $2.8bn military package to Israel, including 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117s.
Nearly 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, with nearly 1,400 killed since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement.
Jenna Escheik, 19, from Virginia, met with offices of Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Representative Rob Wittman.
Yaseen Shaikh, 22, from Cleveland, Ohio, met with offices of Republican Senators Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno.

Capitol Hill Advocacy Day

Americans for Justice in Palestine Action organized Tuesday's event, bringing more than 300 constituents to meet with over 100 US lawmakers' offices. Participants advocated for legislative initiatives related to Israel's war in Gaza, settler violence in the West Bank, and immigration law used against Palestinian advocacy. Jenna Escheik, a 19-year-old from Virginia, met with offices of Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Representative Rob Wittman. Yaseen Shaikh, a 22-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, met with offices of Republican Senators Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno, both of whom have voted against limiting arms sales to Israel.

Arms Transfer and Casualties

Last week, US media widely reported the Trump administration approved a $2.8bn military package to Israel, including 907kg MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117s. Nearly 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, with nearly 1,400 killed since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement went into effect. Successive presidential administrations and Congress have for decades resisted conditioning US military aid to Israel.