The United States Senate voted Wednesday against Senator Bernie Sanders’ attempt to halt the sale of American bombs and firearms to Israel. Despite the failure of the resolution, the vote highlighted a growing divide among Democrats over arms sales to Israel, driven by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, has consistently opposed selling offensive weapons to Israel, and the measures put before the Senate would have stopped a $675 million sale of bombs and the shipment of 20,000 automatic assault rifles. While the resolutions did not pass, support among Democrats increased, with 27 members voting against the rifle sale and 24 against the bomb sale, surpassing previous efforts.
The mounting political dissent reflects the disturbing images of starvation and hardship emerging from Gaza, straining what has traditionally been strong bipartisan support for Israel in Congress. According to Sanders, this shift in stance among Democrats aligns with the growing sentiment among Americans who are frustrated with extensive financial support to an Israeli government that critics accuse of exacerbating humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
As the prolonged conflict nears its second year, the global authority on food crises has outlined a severe humanitarian situation unfolding in Gaza. Despite international pressure, including from President Donald Trump, Israel’s announcement of measures such as daily humanitarian ceasefires and airdrops has not notably improved conditions, according to the UN and local observers. They report that aid delivery remains overwhelmed by desperate crowds.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, a Republican from Idaho, placed blame for the crisis squarely on Hamas, arguing they exploit Gaza’s population as human shields and hinder aid access. Echoing the sentiment of his party, every Republican senator opposed Sanders’ resolutions.
Sanders’ proposals, known as joint resolutions of disapproval, would have required approval from both Congressional chambers and needed to survive a presidential veto in order to be effective, a hurdle never previously cleared concerning arms sales. Democratic senators, however, are increasingly vocal about the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, urging the Trump administration to reconsider its policies and significantly increase aid through established aid organizations in the region.
In his statement after the vote, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer highlighted the need for urgent aid to Gaza yet maintained his support for security assistance to Israel, citing broader support for its citizens rather than any specific government. Conversely, certain seasoned Democrats broke with this stance. Washington’s Senator Patty Murray expressed a change in her approach, supporting the resolution for the first time to convey dissatisfaction with the Israeli government’s current strategies.
Additionally, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois shared the discomfort experienced by some long-standing Israel supporters within Congress. Despite his unwavering support in the past, Durbin described the current events in Gaza, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, as indefensible.