The United States Senate, in a late-night session on Wednesday, resoundingly dismissed a resolution aimed at prohibiting specific arms sales to Israel.
This decision has unveiled deep-seated disagreements among Democrats concerning their support for Israel and its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
According to the Daily Caller, the Senate voted 27 to 70 against the resolution, which sought to prevent the U.S. government from transferring tens of thousands of assault rifles to Israel. Every Senate Republican voted against the measure, while a record number of Senate Democrats, more than half of the caucus, voted in favor of the resolution.
The resolution, proposed by Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, aimed to block at least $675 million in weapons sales to Israel. Sanders and his supporters expressed concerns that Israel is not doing enough to avert a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Sanders, a vocal critic of the Israeli government, has previously compelled the Senate to vote on similar resolutions aimed at blocking arms transfers to Israel. This time, he managed to rally the support of over ten Democrats who had previously opposed a similar resolution in April. Among these Democrats was Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff.
Ossoff, considered the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent running for reelection in 2026, faced criticism from the National Senatorial Campaign Committee (NRSC), the campaign arm of Senate Republicans.
"Jon Ossoff is a radical leftist who time and again refuses to stand with Georgias Jewish community," said NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia. "Hed rather please the pro-Hamas extremists in his party than stand with Israel and Jewish Georgians. In 2026, voters will send him packing.
Ossoff defended his stance, explaining that his opposition to supplying Israel with thousands of rifles was a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus approach to the war against Hamas, which he argued has led to a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
However, he voted against a second resolution from Sanders that sought to block the sale of two types of bombs and guidance kits to Israel, arguing that Israelis have the right to defend themselves. This second resolution was also rejected by the Senate in a vote of 24 to 73.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer voted against the resolution, despite a majority of his caucus supporting the prohibition of certain weapons sales to Israel. On the other hand, Senate Republicans, known for their unwavering support for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, unanimously voted against the resolution, which aimed to limit U.S. support for Israeli military operations.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Jim Risch of Idaho argued during the debate that the solution to the conflict isn't to deprive Israel of the weapons it needs. "The solution is in the hands of Hamas, he stated.
The White House had previously warned that President Trump would veto the measures if they passed the upper chamber. The statement of administration policy argued that the United States must stand with its "ally" Israel and that the weapons transfers would enable Israel to deter and defeat its regional foes.
Three Senate Democrats Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly of Arizona abstained from voting. All three are seen as rising stars in the Democratic party and have sought to present themselves as moderate on certain issues.
The rejection of the resolution underscores the ongoing debate within the Democratic party regarding U.S. support for Israel, a topic that is likely to remain contentious in the coming years.
Login