MACDILL AFB, TAMPA, FL 18 September 2025 – Military veterans from different branches including the U.S. Airforce, the U.S. Marines, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army have gathered outside of MacDill AFB to demand an immediate and permanent suspension of weapons and munitions being sent to Israel. These weapons and munitions are being used to commit war crimes and carry out a genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
This demand is made because of MacDill’s violations of the Foreign Assistance Act, Arms Export Control Act, Leahy Laws, the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy (NSM-18) of February 2023, the U.S. War Crimes Act and the Genocide Implementation Prevention Act. These laws both individually and collectively prohibit any transfers of weapons and munitions to Israel if there is credible evidence that the arms will be used by Israel to commit genocide, including attacks intentionally directed against civilian objects or civilians protected or other serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law, including serious acts of violence against children, the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people from Gaza.
● The Foreign Assistance Act, which forbids the provision of assistance to a government which “engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.”
● Arms Export Control Act, which says countries that receive US military aid can only use weapons for legitimate self-defense and internal security. Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza goes way beyond self-defense and internal security.
● The Leahy Law, which prohibits the U.S. Government from using funds for assistance to units of foreign security forces where there is credible information implicating that unit in the commission of gross violations of human rights.
● The Conventional Arms Transfer Policy, which prohibits U.S. weapons transfers when it’s more likely than not that the arms will be used by Israel to commit genocide.
● The U.S. War Crimes Act, which forbids grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, including wilful killing, torture or inhuman treatment, willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, and unlawful deportation or transfer, perpetrated by the Israeli Occupying Forces.
● The Genocide Convention Implementation Act, which was enacted to implement U.S. obligations under the Genocide Convention, provides for criminal penalties for individuals who commit or incite others to commit genocide.
September 18 is a significant date due to the UN’s deadline for Israel to end its occupation expiring on that date. Other significant actions that are US veteran led include a veteran-led boat that is sailing to Gaza to break the siege as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
For media inquiries:
Ramon Pereira Bonilla
407-820-0166
ramonpereirabonilla@gmail.com
