Senate Rejects Effort to Block Arms Sales to Israel Amid Growing Democratic Opposition

On Wednesday, the Senate dismissed an initiative led by Sen. Bernie Sanders aimed at halting the sale of U.S. bombs and firearms to Israel, despite the growing dissent within the Democratic Party concerning these arms transactions. This latest effort follows a year of Sanders pushing back against the sale of offensive military equipment to Israel, seeking to block a $675 million deal involving bombs and 20,000 automatic rifles.

Though the resolutions ultimately failed, the vote revealed a significant shift, with 27 Democrats supporting the resolution concerning assault rifles and 24 backing the one regarding bomb sales. This marks an increase from Sanders' past attempts, which had garnered a maximum of 18 Democratic votes in November. The imagery of starvation and hardship in Gaza is contributing to this divide, diminishing the historically strong bipartisan support for Israel.

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, reports indicate substantial casualties among Palestinians, with over 60,000 fatalities. Sanders emphasized that many Americans are weary of funding a government behaving in such a detrimental manner, particularly towards children in Gaza. International entities have pointed out that severe food shortages are now prevalent in the region, despite proclaimed humanitarian efforts.

Sen. Jim Risch, the Republican chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, attributed blame for the dire circumstances in Gaza to Hamas, suggesting that the group exploits its citizens as shields while hoarding essential supplies. In contrast, all Republican senators opposed Sanders' resolutions, arguing that eliminating Hamas is crucial for global security.

The joint resolutions of disapproval required approval from both congressional chambers and could have faced a presidential veto, a scenario that has historically prevented Congress from halting arms sales. Democratic senators utilized floor speeches to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis, advocating for a reassessment of U.S. strategies in the conflict and increased aid directed to Gaza.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged the responsibility of the U.S. and Israeli leadership to provide urgent assistance but still voted against the resolutions, clarifying his stance that support for Israel transcends individual administrations. Shifting views were evident as some Democrats, like Sen. Patty Murray, who had previously opposed similar resolutions, chose to support them this time to send a clear message to the current Israeli government regarding their strategies.

Sen. Dick Durbin, another longtime supporter of Israel, expressed the difficulty of maintaining that support in the current context, emphasizing the suffering occurring in Gaza due to Israeli policies under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The comments reflect a notable transformation in the Democratic party's position on arms sales to Israel amid ongoing humanitarian concerns.