Senate Rejects Bernie Sanders’ Attempt to Halt $20 Billion in U.S. Arms Sales to Israel Amid Gaza Conflict

The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly voted down three resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders that aimed to block a series of arms sales to Israel totaling approximately $20 billion. The measures were introduced as concern grows over the humanitarian toll of the ongoing war in Gaza, which has now entered its second year.

On Wednesday night, the Senate rejected Sanders’ resolutions by wide margins, with the most prominent—S.J. Res. 111—failing by a vote of 18 to 79. The votes reflect the strong bipartisan support Israel continues to hold in Congress, though the proposals highlighted growing dissent among Democratic lawmakers over President Biden’s approach to the conflict.

Sanders, an Independent from Vermont who caucuses with the Democrats, has become one of the most vocal critics in Congress of both Israeli military operations and the U.S. government’s continued military support for them.

Speaking from the Senate floor ahead of the vote, Sanders urged his colleagues not to turn a blind eye to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying the U.S. must take responsibility for what he called “mass starvation” and large-scale civilian suffering.

A Humanitarian Emergency in Gaza

Since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering a massive Israeli military response, the scale of destruction in Gaza has escalated dramatically. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 43,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing Israeli ground and air campaign.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned of imminent famine conditions, with over two million Palestinians now facing what the World Food Program describes as “catastrophic” levels of hunger. Much of Gaza’s infrastructure—schools, hospitals, and water systems—has been decimated, raising urgent concerns about long-term humanitarian consequences.

Despite Israel’s pledges to allow humanitarian aid into the region, international organizations say the flow of food, medical supplies, and fuel remains far below necessary levels.

Sanders: U.S. Is Complicit

At a press conference held earlier this week, Sanders was joined by fellow Democratic Senators Peter Welch, Chris Van Hollen, and Jeff Merkley, who echoed concerns about U.S. complicity in the war through its continued arms transfers.

“The U.S. is not a neutral party,” Sanders said. “We are directly supplying the weapons used in this conflict—and by extension, we are also responsible for their use.”

Sanders has accused the Biden administration of violating key U.S. laws, including the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, which prohibit military support to governments committing human rights abuses or interfering with humanitarian efforts.

The resolutions introduced by Sanders would have specifically blocked the sale and transfer of various weapons systems to Israel, including precision-guided munitions, tank rounds, and artillery shells—many of which, he said, were being deployed in densely populated civilian areas in Gaza.

According to Sanders, over the last year alone, the U.S. has sent approximately $18 billion in military aid to Israel and shipped more than 50,000 tons of armaments and equipment.

Growing Democratic Divide

Though none of Sanders’ resolutions were expected to pass, they reflect an increasing divide within the Democratic Party on U.S. policy toward Israel. Several prominent Democrats have expressed concern over the scale of civilian casualties in Gaza, as well as Israel’s restrictions on aid access.

In an op-ed published in The Washington Post, Sanders called the situation “morally indefensible,” adding: “What makes this even more painful is that the death and destruction have been carried out with American weapons and funded by American taxpayers.”

He continued: “The need for aid is more urgent now than at any point in this conflict, but the amount of assistance getting through is at an all-time low. Something must change—and that change must begin with the United States.”

The Path Ahead

While the Senate’s vote confirms continued congressional support for Israel’s defense, it also underscores a shifting conversation in Washington. What was once a nearly unassailable consensus around U.S.-Israel military ties is now being challenged, particularly by younger and more progressive lawmakers.

Sanders has vowed to continue pushing for greater accountability, stating that unconditional support of military allies must not come at the expense of humanitarian principles or international law.

“The world is watching,” Sanders warned from the Senate floor. “We must decide whether we stand for human rights and justice—or whether we enable the continuation of this tragedy through silence and supply.