Senate Blocks Resolutions to Halt Weapons Sales to Israel

The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly rejected three resolutions aimed at halting the sale of weapons to Israel, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders amid rising concerns over human rights violations in Gaza. The votes, which showed a bipartisan consensus against the resolutions, were 79-18, 78-19, and 80-17 respectively, highlighting a significant divide within the Democratic Party on Israel's military actions. Sanders and other progressive senators argued that U.S. military aid is in violation of international laws regarding human rights and humanitarian assistance. Despite this setback, advocates see the vote as a potential turning point in the long-standing bipartisan support for Israel, reflecting a growing call to condition military aid. The Biden administration opposed the resolutions, emphasizing the importance of military support for Israel. This marks a historic moment as it is the first time weapon sales to Israel have been subjected to such a Senate vote.