Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Senate has voted down a series of proposed resolutions that would have blocked approximately $20 billion in arms sales to Israel. The motions, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, aimed to limit the transfer of certain U.S.-made military equipment due to growing humanitarian concerns related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval were brought forward in response to the high civilian death toll and widespread damage reported in Gaza. Estimates from health officials in the region suggest that more than 43,000 people have died since the conflict intensified in October 2023.
Despite strong advocacy on the Senate floor, including a plea from Sanders to consider the impact of the conflict on Palestinian civilians, the resolutions were rejected by a wide margin. The most prominent of the three, Senate Joint Resolution 111, was defeated by a vote of 18–79.
Focus on Humanitarian Impact
The proposals were introduced as part of an effort to draw attention to the growing humanitarian emergency in Gaza, where over 2 million people are facing what United Nations officials have called “extremely critical” hunger levels. International agencies have raised alarms about the possibility of famine if aid access is not expanded.
During a press conference before the vote, Senator Sanders and several colleagues emphasized their concerns about civilian casualties and limited access to humanitarian supplies. They called for a reexamination of U.S. arms transfers to countries involved in large-scale conflicts.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that U.S. support does not contribute to further loss of civilian life or restrict humanitarian relief,” Sanders said.
Legal and Ethical Questions Raised
Supporters of the resolutions pointed to U.S. laws such as the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, which prohibit the sale of weapons to governments that may be restricting humanitarian aid or committing human rights violations. Some lawmakers argue that U.S. policy should be consistent with these legal standards.
The proposed resolutions would have specifically blocked shipments of tank and water rounds, as well as guidance kits used in air-to-ground munitions.
Though the Senate ultimately rejected the resolutions, the debate highlighted growing divisions over U.S. policy in the region and the long-standing military support the country provides to Israel. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S. has given Israel more than $310 billion in total aid, including at least $228 billion in military support.
Ongoing Debate Over U.S. Role
In a recent editorial, Sanders expressed concern about the scale of destruction and the role U.S. resources play in the conflict. He cited reports that over the past year, the U.S. has delivered more than 50,000 tons of military equipment to Israel.
While the resolutions were not expected to pass given strong bipartisan support for Israel in Congress, their introduction reflects growing calls for oversight of U.S. arms transfers and their humanitarian impact.
As the situation in Gaza remains critical, some lawmakers and humanitarian organizations are continuing to urge greater accountability and expanded access for aid agencies on the ground.
