Senate Strikes Down Bernie Sanders’ Resolution to Block Arms Sale to Israel

The United States Senate has recently dismissed efforts to halt the sale of certain American weaponry to Israel, a decision influenced by growing concerns regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Senator Bernie Sanders led the initiative through joint resolutions of disapproval aimed at stopping the Biden administration’s proposed $20 billion arms deal with Israel. However, these resolutions failed to garner sufficient support, receiving only approximately 20 votes from the 100-member Senate.

Senator Sanders criticized Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 43,000 deaths, and accused the United States of complicity due to its continuous military assistance. He highlighted that U.S. law prohibits military aid to entities involved in human rights violations. Despite this legal stipulation, the Biden administration has persisted in facilitating arms transfers, even after Israel did not meet a U.S.-imposed condition to improve humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Support for the resolutions also came from Senator Elizabeth Warren and others, who emphasized the necessity of holding Israel accountable and ensuring that U.S. actions align with its laws and ethical principles. Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley voiced his opposition to the transfer of weapons that have been used in bombing campaigns causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with United Nations reports indicating that over 65% of housing and critical infrastructure has been destroyed, and 90% of the Palestinian population has been displaced.

Although this initiative to block arms sales was unsuccessful, it aimed to express disapproval of Israeli policies and to apply pressure on both Israel and the Biden administration to address the worsening humanitarian crisis.