U.S. Senate Rejects Effort to Block $8.8B Arms Sale to Israel Amid Gaza Humanitarian Crisis
Despite rising concerns over the blockade and mass suffering in Gaza, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to allow continued arms transfers to Israel.
Watan-The U.S. Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly rejected an effort to block an $8.8 billion weapons sale to Israel. The move was based on concerns over the human rights crisis facing Palestinians in Gaza following Israel’s bombardment of the territory and the prevention of humanitarian aid delivery.
The Senate voted 82 to 15 and 83 to 15 against two proposed resolutions concerning the sale of heavy bombs and other offensive military equipment. The resolutions were introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with the Democratic Party.
While legislation aimed at halting arms sales to Israel is unlikely to pass, given the decades-long bipartisan support for Israel in Congress, proponents hope that raising the issue will push the Israeli government and U.S. administrations to do more to protect civilians.
In a speech urging support for the resolutions, Sanders described the devastating toll on civilians and the suffering of thousands of children facing malnutrition and starvation—especially due to the recent blockade on humanitarian aid.
He added, “What is happening now is unimaginable. It has now been 31 days and counting without any humanitarian aid reaching Gaza. Nothing at all. No food, no water, no medicine, no fuel—for more than a month.”
