Palestinian rights advocates in northern California are suing two members of Congress over billions of dollars in military aid sent to Israel amid the ongoing Gaza war. A complaint filed Thursday, Dec. 19 in a U.S. District Court alleges Democratic Reps. Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman caused moral injury to a group of over 500 taxpayers in their California districts by voting for a $26 billion aid package to Israel in April.
The plaintiffs claim the aid violates what they call their constitutional right to have taxes collected for only lawful purposes. The attorney for the plaintiffs said sending military aid to Israel violates multiple U.S. laws, including a ban on supporting genocide.
The residents from 10 counties said U.S. support for Israel has caused them to suffer from symptoms including “uncontrollable weeping” and the “inability to experience joy.”
One of the plaintiffs, Robie Tenorio, said they want the U.S. to stop funding the Israel-Hamas war.
“As federal taxpayers we are complicit in funding this genocide and we want our Congress people to stop our involvement,” Tenorio told Humboldt Freelance Reporting.
A spokesperson for Rep. Thompson said in a statement to Jefferson Public Radio, “Securing the safety of civilians won’t be accomplished by filing a lawsuit.”
Rep. Huffman has so far not commented on the matter in public.