PORTLAND, Ore. – Local elected officials joined community and religious leaders outside Portland City Hall on Thursday to call for restrictions on U.S. military support to Israel, urging Oregon’s congressional delegation to back the Block the Bombs Act.
The measure, introduced in the U.S. House as H.R. 3565, seeks to prohibit shipments of certain munitions — including bombs, tank shells, and artillery ammunition — to Israel. Supporters argue the legislation is a necessary response to Israel’s continued military campaign in Gaza.
The Context
The Israel-Hamas war, now approaching its two-year mark, began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis. Israel launched a sweeping counteroffensive that has included airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza.
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According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 64,231 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. Israel has rejected that figure but has not provided an alternative count.
In the U.S., the debate over continued military aid has sharpened as the federal government has reportedly sent more than $31 billion in support to Israel since the conflict began.
Rally in Portland
At Thursday’s rally, speakers framed the debate as not just a foreign policy question but also a matter of domestic priorities.
“With $31 billion, every park would have a functioning bathroom and we would have widely available lunch programs so that no child ever went hungry in our community,” said Portland City Councilor Angelita Morillo. “Instead, our $31 billion is going toward starving, bombing and maiming children in other countries because our leaders do not find their lives to be valuable.”
The event drew a diverse crowd of Jewish and Palestinian activists standing together in support of the bill. Signs and banners called for peace, accountability, and a redirection of federal dollars toward community needs.
Political Support
Two members of Oregon’s congressional delegation — U.S. Reps. Val Hoyle and Suzanne Bonamici — have already signed on as co-sponsors of the Block the Bombs Act. Rally organizers urged the rest of the delegation, including Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, to follow suit.
Local and state officials present included State Sen. Khanh Pham (D-Portland), State Reps. Willy Chotzen (D-Southeast Portland) and Farrah Chaichi (D-Beaverton), and Beaverton City Councilor Nadia Hasan.
Pham, who has consistently spoken out on foreign policy issues tied to human rights, urged undecided lawmakers to listen to their constituents.
“We urge you to listen to the stories of Oregonians whose family members have been injured and killed by the offensive weapons sent and funded by the U.S.,” she said.
A Growing Debate
The rally underscored growing political pressure in Oregon and across the country as more Americans question the scale of U.S. support for Israel’s military campaign. Supporters of the Block the Bombs Act say restricting arms shipments is one of the most direct ways Congress can act.
Opponents of the bill, however, argue Israel still faces security threats from Hamas and Iran-backed groups, and that reducing U.S. support could leave an ally vulnerable.
For Portland activists, Thursday’s rally was about more than foreign aid — it was about rethinking how U.S. resources are used.
