The U.S. Capitol building is seen in Washington, U.S., December 18, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo
U.S. Senate Overwhelmingly Rejects Proposal to Block Arms Sales to Israel
The United States Senate on Thursday decisively rejected an effort to halt $8.8 billion in arms sales to Israel, despite concerns over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The proposed resolutions sought to prevent the transfer of large-scale bombs and other offensive military equipment to Israel, citing the extensive civilian toll resulting from Israel’s military operations.
Senate Vote and Legislative Context The Senate voted 82-15 and 83-15 against two resolutions of disapproval introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with the Democratic Party. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin chose to vote “present” in both cases.
The failure of the resolutions underscores the longstanding bipartisan support for Israel within the U.S. Congress, which has historically made blocking arms sales unlikely. However, proponents of the measures aimed to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis and encourage future U.S. administrations and Israeli officials to take stronger measures to protect civilians.
Arguments for and Against the Resolutions Senator Sanders, in his remarks advocating for the resolutions, highlighted the severe humanitarian impact of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. “What is happening right now is unthinkable. Today it is 31 days and counting with absolutely no humanitarian aid getting into Gaza—nothing. No food, no water, no medicine, no fuel, for over a month,” Sanders stated. The blockade, which Israel argues is necessary to pressure Hamas in ceasefire negotiations, has exacerbated malnutrition and starvation, particularly among children.
Opponents of the resolutions, including Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch, argued that blocking arms sales would jeopardize the security of a key U.S. ally in the Middle East. “They would abandon Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, during a pivotal moment for global security,” Risch asserted.
Impact of the Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis According to Palestinian health officials, more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israeli military campaign. The war was initiated following an October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led gunmen, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 individuals taken hostage, based on Israeli sources. In response, Israel launched a military offensive that has devastated much of Gaza, displacing hundreds of thousands of people who are now sheltering in tents or damaged structures.
On the same day as the Senate vote, reports indicated that hundreds of thousands of Gazans fled in search of shelter as Israeli forces advanced into the ruins of Rafah. This movement is part of Israel’s establishment of a “security zone” in Gaza.
Previous Legislative Efforts and Presidential Influence This is not the first time the Senate has voted on resolutions seeking to limit arms sales to Israel. In November 2023, three similar resolutions introduced by Sanders were also rejected by a wide margin.
Since assuming his second term on January 20, President Donald Trump has actively supported Israel, reversing former President Joe Biden’s attempts to impose restrictions on certain arms transfers. Trump has also suggested relocating Palestinians out of Gaza and redeveloping the enclave into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Earlier this year, Trump bypassed the traditional congressional review process to approve billions of dollars in military sales to Israel. While U.S. law grants Congress the authority to review and potentially block significant foreign arms deals through resolutions of disapproval, no such resolution has ever passed both chambers and survived a presidential veto. However, such measures have historically led to significant political debates.
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