Sanders’ Resolution to Block Arms Sale to Israel Struck Down

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejected three measures proposed by independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders that aimed to block around $20 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel.

Sanders introduced three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) in late September, almost a year after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, whose subsequent military ground and air campaign in Gaza has killed over 43,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Much of Gaza has been destroyed. United Nations officials have warned that with more than 1.8 million Palestinians there experiencing “extremely critical” levels of hunger, famine is imminent. On Wednesday evening, in a final push for senators’ support, Sanders urged them to not “turn a blind eye” to the humanitarian crisis and U.S. involvement in supporting “mass starvation,” in a speech on the Senate floor.

The Senate on Wednesday evening voted 18 to 79 in striking down Sanders’ S.J. Res. 111 measure. Given Israel’s strong support in the upper chamber, they were not expected to pass, but the motions signal internal Democratic disapproval of President Joe Biden’s position on the continuing war.

The Jewish senator has been outspoken against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military actions and restrictions on aid delivery, accusing Israel of acting beyond its right to defend itself and of violating international law. Sanders has also repeatedly criticized the Biden administration’s handling of and support for the war, and has expressed frustration with the administration’s failure to hold Israel accountable.

The three resolutions sought to block the transfer of U.S. tank rounds, water rounds and guidance kits attached to the “bombs dropped in Gaza” from being sent to Israel, among other military aid, Sanders said in a news conference Tuesday while joined by Senators Peter Welch, Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley. He said the U.S. is “complicit” in the war, its atrocities and international law violations.

The measures would have blocked approximately $20 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel. The U.S. is a strong ally of Israel and has given the country over $310 billion in economic and military assistance, according to the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR), which includes at least $228 billion in military aid.

“The United States government is currently in violation of the law, and every member of the U.S. Senate who believes in the rule of law should vote for the resolutions,” Sanders said the day before the vote.

He referenced the Foreign Assistance Act and Arms Export Control Act, concluding that the U.S. is violating them: “The United States cannot provide weaponry to countries that violate internationally recognized human rights or block U.S. humanitarian aid,” the Vermont independent said.

The United Nations and numerous humanitarian organizations have reported Israel’s violations, specifically noting restrictions on humanitarian aid delivery. Israel has said it is committed to delivering aid and humanitarian assistance.

In a Washington Post opinion article this week, Sanders wrote, “The need is greater than at any other time in the conflict; the volume of aid getting into Gaza in recent weeks is lower than at any point since the war began.”

The senator continued: “All of this is unspeakable and immoral. But what makes it even more painful is that much of this death and destruction has been carried out with U.S. weaponry and paid for by American taxpayers. During the last year alone, the United States has provided $18 billion in military aid to Israel and delivered more than 50,000 tons of armaments and military equipment.”

Democrats, Independents Who Backed Sanders

The following 17 Democratic and independent senators joined Sanders in supporting his resolutions:

Tim Kaine; Martin Heinrich; Angus King; Jon Ossoff; Tina Smith; Jeff Merkley; Mazie Hirono; Brian Schatz; Elizabeth Warren; Peter Welch; Chris Van Hollen; Dick Durbin; Jeanne Shaheen; Ben Ray Luján; Raphael Warnock; Chris Murphy; and Thomas Carper.