The US House of Representatives recently passed a controversial bipartisan amendment that prohibits the government from acknowledging the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). The amendment, which was approved with a 269-144 vote, bans the State Department from using international affairs budget funds to cite statistics from Gaza’s Health Ministry. This move, supported by Democrats and Republicans alike, is now awaiting consideration by the Senate.
If enacted, the amendment would prevent the US government from mentioning the alarming number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza, which critics argue is an attempt to suppress facts about Israel’s aggression. Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib strongly condemned the amendment, highlighting the ongoing dehumanization of Palestinians and the denial of genocide.
Observers and human rights advocates have also criticized the vote, claiming it aims to censor information about the IOF’s actions and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They believe this amendment is part of a broader effort to silence criticism of the Israeli Occupation and its alleged war crimes.