The US Senate late Wednesday rejected a resolution banning US arms sales to Israel, revealing new divisions among Democrats and highlighting growing frustration with Israel's conduct in Gaza.
The first of two votes, pushed by progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, by a vote of 27 to 70, renewed efforts to halt US arms transfers in protest of the Israeli war in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian crisis. Democrats were split on the vote, with 12 new members siding with Sanders. "This resolution is absolutely necessary because the United States will not have credibility in the international community if we do not stand up to this," said Sanders, an independent who typically votes with the Democrats.
These efforts coincided with growing international outrage, including rare criticism of Israel from President Donald Trump, who this week publicly contradicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's denial that Gaza was facing a hunger crisis. Britain, France, and several other countries have warned that they will recognize Palestine as a state unless Israel takes steps to improve conditions in Gaza and commits to a long-term peace process. This is the third time Sanders has forced a Senate vote to halt Israeli arms sales since late 2024, each time citing Palestinian civilian casualties.
Among the new supporters is independent Maine Senator Angus King, who this week declared that he would no longer support the Netanyahu government because Israel appears to be using starvation as a weapon of war.
"I've had enough," King said in an interview. "I expected Israel to wake up and realize how horrible what they're doing is, and at least release humanitarian aid. But they kept not doing that, and I've reached a point where I've had enough." Other new supporters since April include Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI); Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DEL); Martin Heinrich (D-NM); Jon Ossoff (D-GA); Tammy Duckworth (D-IL); Raphael Warnock (D-GA); Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD); and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
Last April, the Senate rejected two Sanders resolutions aimed at blocking billions of dollars in arms sales to Israel. At that time, the resolution, which followed the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire, received only 15 senators in support. This was down from 19 senators in November, when a resolution on Israel was backed by 19 senators. One of Wednesday's resolutions would have blocked the sale of 5,000 heavy bombs and 5,000 bomb guidance kits worth $676 million. The other would have banned the sale of tens of thousands of fully automatic assault rifles.
Sanders argued that the arms transfers "clearly violate" US legal requirements for foreign military sales, because Israel has used US-supplied weapons to kill thousands of Palestinian civilians.
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) defended the sales, arguing that Hamas, not Israel, is perpetuating the war.
"These are misguided decisions, and if adopted, they would mean abandoning America's closest ally in the Middle East," he said in a speech.
In turn, Sanders said: "This decision is absolutely necessary, because the United States will not have credibility with the international community if we do not confront this matter."
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Senate votes against arms embargo on Israel despite growing Democratic support