Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, has made multiple efforts to stop the sale of offensive weapons to Israel.
The US Senate rejected three measures from him that aimed to block around $20 billion in US arms sales to Israel. Introduced in late September of last year, the resolutions came nearly a year after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, which led to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and over 43,000 reported deaths.
The Senate voted 18 to 79 to strike down Sanders’ S.J. Res. 111, 17 to 80 on S.J. Resolution 115, and 19 to 78 on S.J. Resolution 113.
Senator Sanders has openly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his military operations and restrictions on aid delivery, accusing Israel of acting beyond its right to defend itself and violating international law.
The three resolutions Sanders introduced aimed to block the transfer of US tank rounds, water rounds, and guidance kits attached to bombs used in Gaza, among other military aid.
Speaking at a news conference with Senators Peter Welch, Chris Van Hollen, and Jeff Merkley, Sanders declared that the US is “complicit” in the ongoing conflict and its atrocities.
Ever since these resolutions were voted against, Senator Sanders has proposed more resolutions regarding the same matter, but to no avail. The outcome has pretty much has always been the same.
The Associated Press reported July 31, 2025, that the Senate rejected an effort from Sen. Sanders to block the sale of US bombs and firearms to Israel yet again, but this time, “the vote showed a growing number of Democrats opposed to the arms sales amid widespread hunger and suffering in Gaza.”
The resolution sought to stop $675 million in bomb sales and the delivery of 20,000 automatic assault rifles to Israel.
Although it failed to pass, it showed that support among Democrats grew. Over half the caucus—27 Democrats—backed the assault-rifle resolution, and 24 supported the bomb-sale measure, compared with just 18 Democratic votes during his last attempt in November, AP reported.
Sanders said Democrats are responding to “a significant majority of the American people who are tired of spending billions and billions of dollars on an Israeli government which is currently starving children to death.”
Due to international pressure, including from President Donald Trump, Israel implemented humanitarian pauses and airdrops. Despite that, however, conditions on the ground remain dire, with aid efforts struggling to meet the overwhelming need.
Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, placed responsibility on Hamas both for the conflict and the current situation in Gaza.
All Republican senators voted against Sen. Sanders’ resolution.
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