Opposed by 79 votes... Overwhelming Rejection of Israel Arms Sales Block Resolution in US Senate

On the 20th (local time), the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejected a resolution to block arms sales to Israel, which is engaged in a war in the Gaza Strip.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who introduced a resolution to block arms sales to Israel, is attending a press conference and taking questions at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on the 19th (local time), one day before the Senate vote. Photo by Getty Images Yonhap News

According to AP News and others, the resolution, led by progressive independent Senator Bernie Sanders, was voted down in the Senate with 79 opposing votes, 18 in favor, and 1 abstention. Among the 100 senators, not only Republicans but also a majority of Democratic senators voted against it.

The resolution aimed to prohibit U.S. arms sales to Israel amid rising civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. In a press conference the day before, Senator Sanders criticized, "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not waging war against the Palestinian armed group Hamas, but rather a full-scale war against the Palestinian people." He added, "Most of what is happening there is made possible by American weapons and the support of American taxpayers," and argued, "The U.S. is complicit in these atrocities. This complicity must end."

Notably, this vote took place after the Biden administration's deadline to the Israeli government, warning that U.S. arms support could be cut off if the humanitarian situation in Gaza was not improved. Earlier, the Biden administration demanded measures such as allowing at least 350 relief trucks to enter within 30 days, by November 12, and opening additional humanitarian corridors. However, Israel did not comply, and the Biden administration took no action either.

Senator Elizabeth Warren publicly expressed support for the resolution and criticized the Biden administration for not taking further action against Israel. In a statement, she called it "a serious mistake that undermines U.S. credibility," and said, "If the government does not act, Congress must enforce U.S. law and hold the Netanyahu government accountable through resolutions."

However, these arguments failed to sway other senators. Under the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, Congress can pass resolutions to block arms sales to foreign countries. For this to happen, the resolution must be approved by both the House and Senate. Additionally, the President holds veto power over such resolutions.

This is not the first time Senator Sanders has led a resolution to block arms sales to Israel. There had been expectations locally that the resolution would likely be rejected.

The Guardian reported, "Under U.S. law, military support should not be provided to foreign forces committing human rights abuses," but added, "Despite ongoing condemnation from human rights experts over war crimes, the Biden administration has largely refused to halt arms support to Israel."

Meanwhile, bombings continued in the Gaza Strip on the same day. Gaza health authorities reported that the Israeli military bombed five houses in northern Gaza, resulting in multiple casualties. Hamas-affiliated media reported 57 deaths.