Senate Blocks Sanders’ Israel Arms Ban Despite Democratic Support/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. Senate rejected Senator Bernie Sanders’ proposal to block arms sales to Israel, but Democratic support for such measures is growing. With widespread suffering in Gaza, more than half the Democratic caucus backed limiting assault rifle exports. The vote reflects a deepening division over U.S. military aid to Israel.
Israel Arms Sale Debate Quick Looks
- Senate voted down Sanders’ effort to block U.S. arms sales to Israel
- Proposals targeted $675M in bombs and 20,000 assault rifles
- 27 Democrats supported banning rifles; 24 supported halting bombs
- Democratic support for Sanders’ resolutions hit a new high
- Gaza famine and humanitarian crisis sway more Democrats
- GOP unanimously opposed, blaming Hamas for Gaza conditions
- Senate Democrats urge Trump administration to expand Gaza aid
- Historic bipartisan support for Israel now showing cracks
Deep Look: Senate Blocks Sanders’ Israel Arms Ban, But Democratic Dissent Mounts Amid Gaza Crisis
The U.S. Senate has once again blocked legislation aimed at halting the sale of American weapons to Israel, but a growing number of Democrats are breaking with tradition, citing the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and voicing concerns about continued U.S. military support.
On Wednesday, lawmakers rejected two resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) that sought to stop the Biden administration-approved sales of $675 million in bombs and 20,000 automatic assault rifles to Israel. Though the measures failed to pass, they marked a sharp increase in Democratic support for curbing weapons transfers to the Israeli government.
Twenty-seven Senate Democrats voted in favor of blocking the assault rifle shipments, and 24 supported halting bomb sales—an increase from the previous high of 18 Democratic votes for a similar resolution in November 2024.
The vote revealed a growing rift in what was once a nearly unanimous position of bipartisan support for Israel’s military operations. In recent months, disturbing images of famine, child malnutrition, and destroyed infrastructure in Gaza have led many Democrats to reevaluate U.S. involvement.
“A significant majority of the American people are tired of spending billions and billions of dollars on an Israeli government which is currently starving children to death,” Sanders said from the Senate floor.
The rising humanitarian toll in Gaza was underscored this week by an international food crisis authority that warned a “worst-case scenario of famine” is unfolding in the region. Though Israeli officials have promised humanitarian pauses and airdrops, many Palestinians and aid organizations report that little has improved on the ground.
Democratic lawmakers spent over an hour in floor speeches ahead of the vote, emphasizing the suffering of children in Gaza and demanding that the Trump administration revise its approach. Their calls included a major expansion of humanitarian aid delivered through trusted, neutral NGOs.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urged President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ramp up the delivery of food and medicine. Still, Schumer voted against Sanders’ resolution, sticking to the party’s traditional view of U.S. support for Israel.
“Security assistance to Israel is not about any one government but about our support for the Israeli people,” Schumer said.
Yet several senior Democrats broke with that philosophy.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), who had voted against similar resolutions in the past, supported the measures this time, signaling growing disillusionment with Israel’s military strategy.
“As a longtime friend and supporter of Israel, I am voting yes to send a message: the Netanyahu government cannot continue with this strategy,” she stated.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) echoed similar concerns:
“Gaza is starving and dying because of the policies of Bibi Netanyahu. For many of us who have stood by Israel, this is painful but necessary.”
The Republican majority, however, stood firmly against the resolutions. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, blamed Hamas for the crisis, arguing that the militant group exploits civilians as human shields and diverts resources.
“It is in the interest of America and the world to see this terrorist group destroyed,” Risch said, emphasizing that arms sales to Israel are a necessary part of that effort.
Despite emotional appeals and growing internal debate, the joint resolutions of disapproval failed. These types of resolutions must pass both chambers of Congress and avoid a presidential veto to take effect. To date, Congress has never successfully blocked an arms sale using this legal pathway.
Still, the vote is being viewed as a milestone. The shift within the Democratic Party signals a transformation in the U.S.–Israel alliance. What was once a near-sacrosanct relationship is now subject to political scrutiny and public debate, particularly as images from Gaza fill global newsfeeds and polling shows declining support among American voters for Israel’s actions.
The Biden administration, like its predecessor, has maintained strong ties with Israel. But mounting pressure from within the president’s own party—and the broader electorate—may force a recalibration of foreign aid and weapons sales moving forward.
With the war in Gaza nearing its second year and no clear end in sight, Democrats are likely to continue pushing for both humanitarian relief and a more conditional approach to U.S. military support. The question now is how the White House and Israel will respond.
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