Background on the Block the Bombs Act

The Block the Bombs Act requires arms sales to Israel be in "accordance with international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and relevant bilateral agreements." The legislation seeks to ensure that U.S. assistance is consistent with long-established legal protections for civilians during armed conflict.

Many residents of Santa Cruz County wish to prevent further loss of civilian life in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, and throughout the region. Supporters of the legislation include Representative Zoe Lofgren, who represents part of Santa Cruz County, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and the Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee.

NY Times/Sienna Poll May 2026  57% of registered voters oppose economic and military support of Israel and 65% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iran War. 

Three out of four Democrats oppose military aid to Israel. 

In the past, the Board of Supervisors passed a Resolution Supporting House Concurrent Resolution 473 Regarding Iraq. The resolution recognized the humanitarian consequences of war for civilians and urged peaceful alternatives through international institutions. 

 

DRAFT Resolution in Support of H.R.3565 - Block the Bombs Act

WHEREAS, international humanitarian law exists to protect civilians during armed conflict regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion, and respect for those protections reflects humanitarian values shared by the residents of Santa Cruz County; and

WHEREAS, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has a longstanding history of expressing the County's position on matters of war, peace, civil rights, public health, and humanitarian concern when those matters affect County residents and reflect the values of our community; and

WHEREAS, many residents of Santa Cruz County are directly affected by the violence in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran through family, friends, faith communities, and longstanding ties to the region, and many others are deeply concerned about the protection of civilian life; and

WHEREAS, Representative Zoe Lofgren and 82 members of Congress have co-sponsored H.R. 3565, the Block the Bombs Act, to require that U.S. military assistance to Israel comply with international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and relevant bilateral agreements; and

WHEREAS, the United States has enabled the violence towards non-combatants by providing at least $21.7 billion in military aid to Israel from the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023 until October 2025; and

WHEREAS, in our democratic system the people depend on local elected leaders to convey the will of the people to their representatives in Congress;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors hereby supports HR 3565 - Block the Bombs Act, and expresses its gratitude for Rep. Zoe Lofgren for her co-sponsorship of this legislation, and urges Rep. Jimmy Panetta to join as a co-sponsor.

Background on the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act

In 1949 the United Nations founded the UN Relief and Works Administration. The United States has historically been one of the largest financial supporters of UNRWA, which serves nearly 6 million Palestinian refugees across the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. With some 13,000 employees in Gaza, UNRWA is the organization with the most capacity to provide humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza.

In March 2024, the U.S. paused UNRWA funding after the Israeli government alleged that 12 agency employees had direct involvement in Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack. A UN investigation found that 9 UNRWA employees “may have been involved” in the attack. Those employees were dismissed. The countries that had paused funding for UNRWA resumed their funding, including the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan, and Sweden. The United States did not resume funding. Instead the United States and Israel set up the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The GHF reduced the number of food distribution sites in Gaza to four. There were repeated mass killings in the vicinity of GHF distribution sites. As of 15 August 2025, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported 994 Palestinians were killed in the vicinity of GHF sites while seeking food. 

In spite of the ceasefire beginning October, 2025, the House of Representatives passed legislation in January 2026 that continues the ban on funding UNRWA.  

Rep. Andre Carson, author of the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act stated, “Providing humanitarian aid to a starving nation – with funding Congress has appropriated year after year – should not be controversial.”

 

DRAFT Resolution in Support of H.R. 2411, the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act

WHEREAS, many people of Santa Cruz County feel deeply for the deprivation suffered by the survivors of the military action in Gaza and access to food, clean water, medical care, shelter, and education are fundamental humanitarian concerns consistent with Santa Cruz County's longstanding commitment to protecting public health and vulnerable communities; and

WHEREAS, UNRWA is the United Nations agency with the greatest capacity to provide food, medical care, shelter, sanitation, education, and emergency relief to Palestinian civilians; and

WHEREAS, in January 2025  Israel banned UNRWA from operating in Gaza and the West Bank. In March 2025 Israel cut off food and medical aid to Gaza and cut off electricity for water plants. In early 2026 Israel announced a ban on 37 international humanitarian organizations from working in Gaza; and

WHEREAS, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini reported in November 2025, “Safeguarding UNRWA’s mandate and operations is required under international law; it is vital to the survival of millions of Palestinians; and it is essential for a political solution;” and

WHEREAS, Rep. Zoe Lofgren and 79 members of Congress have co-sponsored HR 2411 to restore UN funding to UNRWA;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors hereby supports HR 2411 - UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act, and expresses its support for Rep. Zoe Lofgren for her co-sponsorship of this legislation, and urges Rep. Jimmy Panetta to join as a co-sponsor.