A person uses a mobile phone with the U.S. Capitol building in the background, on the day Republican U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) was elected to become the next Senate Majority Leader, following the U.S. Senate Republicans leadership election, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 13, 2024. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo
The U.S. Senate is poised to vote, possibly as early as Wednesday, on a legislative measure aimed at blocking arms sales to Israel. The move comes as lawmakers critical of Israel’s handling of the Gaza humanitarian crisis seek to pressure the Israeli government and the Biden administration to facilitate aid delivery to Palestinian civilians.
Background on the Resolution
The resolutions of disapproval were introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent who aligns with Democrats. Although strong bipartisan support for Israel makes the resolutions unlikely to pass, proponents aim to leverage the vote to highlight concerns about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Humanitarian groups have raised alarms over the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, where the 2.3 million residents face widespread displacement and the threat of famine. According to Gaza health officials, Israel’s 13-month military campaign has resulted in over 43,922 Palestinian deaths.
In his statement, Senator Sanders condemned the military operations, stating, “This war has been conducted almost entirely with American weapons and $18 billion in U.S. taxpayer dollars… These actions are immoral and illegal.”
U.S. Administration and Congressional Dynamics
President Joe Biden has consistently supported Israel, particularly following the October 2023 attack by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of more than 250 hostages. The Biden administration, however, warned Israel in October 2023 that U.S. military aid could face consequences unless there was an improvement in aid delivery to Gaza.
By mid-November, Washington asserted that Israel had made progress in facilitating aid flows, though many international relief organizations disagreed, citing ongoing challenges in reaching civilians. Israel, for its part, attributes the delays to logistical issues within U.N. distribution systems.
Legislative and Political Implications
The resolutions of disapproval are also backed by Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen and Elizabeth Warren, who have voiced concerns about Israel’s military conduct and its impact on civilians.
Under U.S. law, Congress has the authority to block major foreign arms sales through such resolutions, though these measures rarely succeed. If a resolution is filed, the Senate must vote on it, providing an opportunity for contentious debate that could politically challenge the administration.
Historically, such resolutions have not passed both chambers of Congress nor survived a presidential veto. Nonetheless, they have at times served to provoke significant political discussions and embarrassment for sitting presidents.
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