The United States Senate rejected three proposals put forth by independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, which aimed to prevent the sale of approximately $20 billion in arms to Israel.
One year after Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, Sanders presented three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) in late September. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel’s subsequent military operations, both ground and aerial, have resulted in the deaths of over 43,000 individuals by various estimates. Significant destruction has occurred in Gaza, and United Nations officials have cautioned that famine is imminent, as over 2 million Palestinians are experiencing ‘extremely critical’ levels of hunger.
In a fervent address on the Senate floor, Sanders delivered a concluding appeal to his fellow senators, imploring them to acknowledge the humanitarian crisis and the United States’ complicity in what he termed ‘mass starvation.’ Sanders’ resolution, S.J. Res. 111, was rejected by a vote of 18 to 79 in the Senate on Wednesday evening. Given the substantial backing Israel enjoys in the upper chamber, the outcome was anticipated. Nevertheless, the votes reflect a divergence among Democrats regarding President Joe Biden’s stance on the current conflict.
The Jewish senator has publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military operations and restrictions on aid distribution. He asserts that Israel is violating international law and exceeding its right to self-defense. Sanders has repeatedly expressed his discontent with the Biden administration’s approach to the conflict and its support for it, voicing his frustration over the lack of accountability for Israel.
In conjunction with other military assistance, three resolutions aimed to prevent the transfer of U.S. tank rounds, water rounds, and guidance kits linked to the ‘bombs dropped in Gaza’ to Israel, as stated by Sanders during a news conference alongside Senators Peter Welch, Chris Van Hollen, and Jeff Merkley. Sanders further proclaimed that the United States is ‘complicit’ in the war, its associated crimes, and violations of international law.
These measures would have halted the U.S. from selling approximately $20 billion worth of arms to Israel. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) reports that the United States has provided Israel with over $310 billion in economic and military assistance, including at least $228 billion in military support, underscoring the U.S.’s strong alliance with Israel.
The Vermont Independent has claimed that the United States is in violation of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act by supplying arms to nations that violate internationally recognized human rights or that impede U.S. humanitarian assistance.
The United Nations, along with numerous humanitarian organizations, has reported on Israel’s transgressions, particularly highlighting its restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid. In a recent opinion piece for the Washington Post, Sanders stated, ‘The need is greater than at any other time in the conflict; the amount of aid entering Gaza in recent weeks has been the lowest since the onset of the war.’
The senator stated, “This situation is both unimaginable and unethical. What exacerbates the pain is that a significant portion of this loss of life and devastation has been executed using U.S. weaponry, funded by American taxpayers. In the past year, the United States has allocated $18 billion in military assistance to Israel and supplied over 50,000 tons of arms and military supplies. Action is necessary, and it is imperative that the United States takes responsibility.”
