Senator Bernie Sanders Challenges U.S. Military Aid to Israel Amid Gaza Conflict

In late September 2024, Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, introduced three joint resolutions in the U.S. Senate aimed at halting the sale of approximately $20 billion worth of arms to Israel. The proposed resolutions came about a year after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, which led to a series of escalations and a significant military response. Sanders’ measures were focused on addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has worsened as Israel’s military operations intensified.

The conflict has resulted in a devastating toll on Gaza’s population, with some reports from the Gaza Health Ministry estimating over 43,000 deaths as a result of the ongoing ground and air campaign launched by Israel. The United Nations and various humanitarian organizations have issued warnings about the severe conditions in Gaza, with more than two million Palestinians facing extreme hunger. These conditions have prompted many international observers to call for immediate action to alleviate the humanitarian disaster.

During a speech on the Senate floor, Sanders urged his colleagues not to ignore the suffering in Gaza and the role that U.S. military support plays in the conflict. He voiced concerns about the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the role of the U.S. in supporting actions that he described as leading to “mass starvation” in Gaza.

While Sanders’ resolutions were expected to face significant opposition in the Senate due to the strong backing Israel enjoys in the upper house, the introduction of these bills shed light on growing divisions among U.S. lawmakers. Although Sanders’ efforts were unsuccessful—with the Senate voting 18 to 79 to reject his proposal—his actions sparked a broader debate about the U.S. government’s stance on the conflict and its military aid to Israel.

The three resolutions Sanders introduced were designed to block the transfer of military equipment to Israel, including tank rounds, water rounds, and bomb guidance kits. Sanders argued that U.S. weapons were being used in a manner that violated international law, particularly with regard to the protection of civilian life and the provision of humanitarian aid.

In his remarks, Sanders also expressed dissatisfaction with how the Biden administration had handled the situation. He criticized the U.S. government for continuing to provide military support to Israel while ignoring reports of human rights violations. Sanders has consistently raised concerns that the U.S. is complicit in the actions being carried out by Israel, calling for a reevaluation of American foreign policy in the region.

The debate over military aid to Israel is not new. Over the years, the United States has been a key ally of Israel, providing both economic and military assistance. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S. has provided Israel with more than $310 billion in total aid, with the majority of that sum being military assistance. This longstanding alliance has shaped U.S. foreign policy and defense priorities in the Middle East, with Israel often being viewed as a critical partner in the region.

However, the scale of U.S. military aid to Israel in recent years has been a point of contention for some lawmakers. Sanders has repeatedly called attention to the fact that the U.S. is providing military support to a country engaged in actions that, according to some humanitarian groups, violate international laws. He also raised concerns about the implications of this support on U.S. taxpayers, noting that a significant portion of military aid is funded by American citizens.

The Vermont senator has emphasized that U.S. military assistance should not be provided to countries engaged in actions that contravene international human rights standards. He argued that the U.S. must hold itself accountable for its role in the conflict and for supporting actions that contribute to civilian suffering in Gaza.

At a news conference, Sanders was joined by other members of Congress, including Senators Peter Welch, Chris Van Hollen, and Jeff Merkley, who voiced similar concerns about the humanitarian situation. While the resolutions ultimately failed to pass, their introduction highlighted a growing concern within certain segments of the U.S. government about the broader implications of American foreign policy in the Middle East.

Many humanitarian groups, including the United Nations, have documented the dire situation in Gaza, particularly with regard to the restrictions placed on the delivery of humanitarian aid. Israel has stated that it is working to provide necessary supplies, but the volume of aid reaching Gaza has been significantly lower than needed, particularly in light of the ongoing military operations.

In a Washington Post opinion article, Sanders wrote about the challenges facing Gaza’s population, calling the situation “unspeakable and immoral.” He noted that the United States had provided over $18 billion in military aid to Israel in the past year alone, and that U.S. taxpayers were indirectly funding the conflict. Sanders reiterated the need for action to address the humanitarian crisis and to reevaluate U.S. military assistance to Israel.

In conclusion, Sanders’ resolutions were an attempt to address what he sees as the United States’ complicity in the conflict. While the votes in the Senate reflect the continued support for Israel in U.S. foreign policy, the discussions surrounding these resolutions underscore a growing debate about the ethical and humanitarian implications of military aid in the context of ongoing conflicts. The outcome of these resolutions may not have changed the current trajectory of U.S. policy, but they have brought attention to the need for a broader conversation about the role of the United States in global humanitarian efforts.