Senator Christopher Murphy of Connecticut, a Democrat who has received $155,635 from AIPAC, has demonstrated unwavering support for Israel, especially at the expense of Palestinian lives. According to Lancett, it’s projected that 180,000 Gazans will die as a result of the genocide. Despite the staggering death toll in Gaza Murphy has prioritized military aid to Israel over humanitarian concerns. This financial backing from AIPAC has clearly influenced his votes, including his support for $3.8 billion in unconditional military aid to Israel, which has fueled the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Furthermore, he voted to cut U.S. federal funding designated for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), one of the few humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza, exacerbating the suffering of civilians facing famine, disease, and constant bombardments.
Murphy's statements reveal his troubling priorities. Rather than condemning Israel’s mass killing of Palestinian civilians, he suggested that bombing alone may not defeat Hamas, saying, “You cannot defeat a terrorist movement with military force alone... the pace of civilian casualties may end up making Hamas stronger in the long run, and that Israel’s actions could put itself and the United States at risk of future attacks.” This stance shows a lack of concern for the immense loss of life in Gaza, focusing instead on the strategic implications for Israel and the U.S.
Moreover, Murphy’s assertion that “when you’re being a good leader, you are often upsetting people on the right and the left,” in response to criticism of President Biden’s handling of the Israel’s genocide project in Gaza, is a dismissive and tone-deaf remark given the tax paying constituents are upset that their politicians are funding a genocide. His belief that reducing civilian casualties is merely a tactical move to weaken Hamas, rather than a moral imperative to save innocent lives, underscores the extent to which his pro-Israel stance, influenced by AIPAC funding, has compromised his ethical judgment.
Related Links
Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential, The Lancet, July 2024
Gaza infrastructure damages estimated at $18.5bn in UN-World Bank report, Al Jazeera News, April 2024
Murphy On Israel, CT News, May 2024
If Biden Can’t Please Left Or Right On Israel, Maybe That’s A Good Thing, Chris Murphy Gov., May 2024
