On Wednesday, the Senate overwhelmingly voted against three resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders aiming to halt the sale of specific offensive weapons to Israel, a move intended to protest its ongoing military operations in Gaza.
The resolution seeking to block the sale of 120-millimeter tank rounds was defeated by a vote of 18-79, with similar results for resolutions aimed at stopping the sale of 120 mm high-explosive mortar rounds and kits to convert standard bombs into precision-guided munitions.
Sanders Criticizes U.S. Arms Sales to Israel Citing Gaza Civilian Casualties
Sanders clarified that his proposals targeted weapons with devastating effects on civilians in Gaza and Lebanon, asserting they would not impair Israel’s capacity for self-defense.
However, opponents argued otherwise, highlighting potential security risks. He referenced U.S. laws such as the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Control Act, emphasizing that these laws prohibit providing arms to nations violating international human rights or obstructing U.S. humanitarian aid, allegations he directed at Israel.
Sanders underscored the devastation in Gaza, citing over 40,000 casualties reported by Gaza’s health ministry, and equated the destruction to the infamous firebombing of Dresden during World War II.
He firmly stated that the U.S. must not be complicit in such atrocities. His efforts garnered support from J Street, a pro-Israel advocacy group, which highlighted the importance of the debate in holding Israel accountable for the use of U.S.-supplied weapons.
The resolutions faced strong opposition from Senate leaders, including Chuck Schumer and Ben Cardin, who stressed the importance of continued U.S. arms support for Israel’s defense.
Cardin warned that blocking arms shipments could weaken Israel’s future security and increase civilian casualties by limiting the precision of munitions. Additionally, Halie Soifer, representing the Jewish Democratic Council of America, praised Senate Democrats for rejecting the measures, aligning with the White House’s stance to maintain pressure on Hamas instead of restricting military aid.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also criticized the resolutions, emphasizing Hamas’s existential threat to Israel and framing their attacks as part of a larger mission to destroy the Jewish state.
Despite differing views, opponents of the resolutions consistently argued that the measures would undermine Israel’s defense without addressing the broader conflict effectively.
