The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote on a series of measures introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders to block a $20 billion arms deal with Israel. The legislation, known as Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs), was introduced in September and will be brought to the Senate floor this week. These resolutions aim to halt the sale of offensive weapons, including tanks, munitions, and F-15 fighter jets, amid growing concerns about Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Sanders, a progressive independent who caucuses with Democrats, argues that U.S. weapons have contributed to severe civilian casualties and widespread suffering in Gaza. He contends that Israel’s restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid to the region violate U.S. and international law. “Tens of thousands of Palestinians face malnutrition and starvation,” Sanders said in a statement. “The volume of aid reaching Gazans is lower than at any time in the last year.”
The Biden administration has been criticized for continuing to supply military aid to Israel despite reports of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. On October 13, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a warning to Israeli leaders, demanding improvements in the delivery of humanitarian aid. However, no meaningful action followed, and aid agencies, including the United Nations, report that the region remains on the brink of famine.
While the JRDs are unlikely to pass in the largely pro-Israel Senate, Sanders’ effort has garnered growing support from progressive lawmakers and over 110 advocacy groups, including Amnesty International USA, Human Rights Watch, and the Arab American Institute. These organizations argue that continued U.S. arms sales contradict the nation’s legal and moral obligations, given the reported use of such weapons in strikes that have killed thousands of civilians, aid workers, and journalists in Gaza.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has joined Sanders in supporting the resolutions, condemning the Biden administration’s failure to enforce laws that condition military aid on compliance with humanitarian standards. “If this administration will not act, Congress must step up to enforce U.S. law and hold the Netanyahu government accountable,” Warren said in a statement. Other Democratic senators backing the measures include Peter Welch, Jeff Merkley, and Brian Schatz.
Under the Arms Export Control Act, the executive branch can authorize arms sales to foreign nations, but Congress retains veto power through JRDs. For the measures to succeed, they would need majority support in both the Senate and the House, as well as the president’s approval—a significant hurdle, as JRDs inherently oppose current White House policy. Even if vetoed by the president, Congress could override the decision with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.
Proponents of the resolutions emphasize that blocking offensive weapons to Israel is a necessary step toward ending the cycle of violence in Gaza. Hassan El-Tayyab, an advocacy organizer with the Friends Committee on National Legislation, described the vote as “historic,” highlighting Congress’s responsibility to oversee military aid. “Instead of sending more weapons, Congress and the administration should leverage aid to push for a ceasefire and address the root causes of violence,” El-Tayyab said.
However, pro-Israel groups have pushed back against the resolutions. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Democratic Majority for Israel have urged lawmakers to reject the measures, framing them as a threat to Israel’s security during its ongoing conflicts. “Weakening Israel’s security as it’s engaged in a seven-front war is dangerous for both America and the Jewish state,” AIPAC said in a message to supporters.
The vote will mark the first time the Senate formally considers a JRD to block military aid to Israel, a move that could set a precedent for future congressional oversight of arms sales to U.S. allies. While the resolutions are unlikely to pass, Sanders’ push highlights a shift in the political landscape, with an increasing number of lawmakers questioning the unconditional military support the U.S. has provided to Israel for decades.
