US Senator Bernie Sanders announced plans to push for votes on resolutions aimed at halting US arms sales to the Israeli Occupation.

 

The Vermont senator, an independent who aligns with Democrats, stated on Thursday that he will introduce two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD) in an effort to block the USD 8.8 billion in military aid previously pledged to the Israeli Occupation. These resolutions, if successful, would prevent the transfer of weapons, including “35,000 massive 2,000-pound bombs,” which he argues are fueling the ongoing aggression.

 

JRDs offer a procedural mechanism to expedite a vote, limiting the committee's review period to five days. If not acted upon within that timeframe, sponsors of the resolution can push for a floor vote. Since the resolution is classified as privileged, it cannot be filibustered or amended and only requires a simple majority to pass.

 

Sanders expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where aid deliveries have been halted for over three weeks due to an "Israeli"-imposed blockade.

 

“No food, water, medicine, or fuel has entered since the start of March,” he stated, describing the blockade as both morally indefensible and a violation of international law, including the Geneva Convention and the Foreign Assistance Act.

 

He further criticized the extensive use of American-made weaponry in the aggression, emphasizing that the war has been sustained by US military support, amounting to USD 18 billion in taxpayer funds.

 

Sanders condemned the Biden and Trump administrations’ roles in supplying arms to the Israeli Occupation, particularly as officials have openly discussed the potential displacement of millions of Palestinians from Gaza. “There is a name for such a policy—ethnic cleansing—and it’s a war crime,” he said.

 

While acknowledging "Israel’s" right to respond to Hamas, Sanders argued that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has instead launched an indiscriminate war on the Palestinian population. He accused Netanyahu of violating both US and international law, urging an end to American complicity in the violence.

 

Sanders also highlighted the dangers faced by humanitarian workers, noting that eight were killed in Gaza over the past week, bringing the total number of aid worker casualties to 399. More than 50,000 people have lost their lives since the aggression began.

 

This is not the first time Sanders has attempted to block arms sales to the Israeli Occupation. In November, he introduced similar resolutions to halt arms transfers approved by then-President Joe Biden, but the Senate overwhelmingly rejected them.

 

Under US law, Congress has the authority to block major foreign weapons deals through resolutions of disapproval, though no such measure has successfully passed and overcome a presidential veto.

 

 

 

The issue has taken on new urgency after President Donald Trump bypassed the usual congressional review process last month to approve additional military sales to "Israel". Typically, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are notified of such deals and given time to raise concerns.

 

However, despite outstanding questions from Representative Gregory Meeks, the Trump administration moved forward without consulting Congress, signaling a broader trend of diminishing legislative oversight on foreign military aid.