Senator Bernie Sanders is working on a series of resolutions that aim to block over $20 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel, a bold move that, while unlikely to succeed, marks the strongest opposition from Congress regarding the destruction in Gaza. This comes ahead of the first anniversary of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In a letter addressed to fellow senators on Wednesday, Sanders emphasized that the U.S. cannot be “complicit in this humanitarian disaster.” His actions would prompt a vote to halt arms sales to Israel, though it is improbable that a majority would support it. “Much of this carnage in Gaza has been carried out with U.S.-provided military equipment,” Sanders, an independent from Vermont, stated.
As the conflict approaches its second year and with President Joe Biden’s attempts to negotiate a cease-fire and secure the release of hostages still uncertain, Sanders’ resolutions aim to curb Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s offensive on Gaza. The war has claimed around 41,000 lives in Gaza following Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7, which killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and led to the abduction of 250 people, with militants still holding around 100 hostages.
Though the divided Senate is unlikely to pass the measures, Sanders’ effort seeks to signal to Netanyahu’s government that its military actions are undermining the historically strong bipartisan support for Israel in the U.S. Sanders mentioned that he is coordinating with other colleagues on these initiatives.
Several prominent Senate Democrats have urged the Biden administration to take steps to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with particular concern for the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, where countless homes, hospitals, schools, and entire Palestinian families have been devastated.
The resolutions proposed by Sanders would stop sales of missile systems, tank ammunition, and other weapons, some of which have been identified as responsible for some of the most extreme devastation in Gaza. New fighter jets are also included in the halt. Earlier this year, Congress had already temporarily delayed certain arms sales to Israel, as legislators expressed concern over the escalating death toll.
Earlier this year, Netanyahu addressed the U.S. Congress after being invited by House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican. His confrontational speech highlighted the growing rift in the U.S. over his military campaign. Several Democrats chose to boycott the address, and many leading Democratic figures openly criticized the tone and message of Netanyahu’s speech.
According to Senate rules, once Sanders presents his resolutions next week, he can quickly trigger a vote to consider the measures. These proposals take the form of a joint resolution of disapproval regarding the arms sales, a tool that grants Congress the ability to oversee international dealings.
Although Sanders believes he will gather some support for his resolutions, they are unlikely to achieve the 51 votes required to pass in the Senate. In the House, where Republicans hold a majority and generally support Netanyahu’s strategy against Hamas, the chances of stopping the arms sales are even slimmer.
{Matzav.com}