Last night, the Senate approved a $95 billion emergency foreign aid package, ending months of partisan bottlenecks to give Israel $26 billion in military aid to continue its war on the Gaza Strip, and $61 billion for the war in Ukraine that has deeply divided the country. the Republican Party.

The measure was approved by a vote of 79 to 18, and now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature, to become law.

In a statement after the vote, Biden said he would sign the bill Wednesday.

Biden's statement said, "Tonight, a bipartisan majority in the Senate joined the House of Representatives to answer the call of history at this critical turning point... Congress has passed legislation to strengthen our national security and send a message to the world about the strength of American leadership."

He continued, "We stand firmly for democracy and freedom, and against tyranny and oppression."

He went on to confirm that he would sign the bill into law "so that we can start sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week."

Biden continued, noting the importance of this package by saying, “For Israel, which has faced unprecedented attacks from Iran, for refugees and those affected by conflicts and natural disasters around the world, including in Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti, and for our partners who seek to achieve security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.” 

Senator Bernie Sanders (independent from Vermont), Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley (from Oregon), and Senator Peter Welch (Democrat from Vermont) voted against the package.

Sanders said that while he supports military aid to Ukraine and humanitarian aid to Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, he opposes what he called "$8.9 billion in unrestricted military aid" to allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch his "unprecedented attack against the Palestinian people."

Sanders said that the United States is complicit in Israel's war of annihilation against the Palestinians in Gaza.

Welch said he voted against the bill because it would enable Israel to continue its attack on Gaza.

He added: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government sending the munitions it is using to destroy Gaza is wrong and contradicts our foreign policy goals.”

The package also includes $15 billion in military aid to Israel and $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and other war-torn areas, which has become another flashpoint among conservative Republicans who say it does not have enough safeguards to prevent it from going to Hamas.

It provides $8 billion in security assistance to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.

It includes language to force the Chinese owner of the social network TikTok to divest from the popular app, which is used by more than 140 million Americans, or face a ban within the United States.

But the centerpiece of the package is $47.7 billion that will flow through the Department of Defense to provide training, equipment, weapons, logistical support and supplies to assist the Ukrainian military, in addition to $13.4 billion to replenish US equipment sent to Ukraine and $20.5 billion to support US armed forces in Europe.

It also includes $9.5 billion in economic aid to Ukraine, structured as a forgivable loan, an idea sparked by former President Trump when the Senate passed an earlier version of the $95 billion aid package last February.