In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the Senate has rejected a resolution, put forward by Senator Bernie Sanders, that aimed to potentially freeze U.S. aid to Israel. The resolution, which required the State Department to complete a report within 30 days on whether Israel had used U.S.-provided weapons to commit human rights violations in Gaza, was voted down in an overwhelming 72-11 vote. The Biden administration, along with a majority of Democrats, opposed the legislation, while a few progressive Democrats supported Sanders’ effort.
Senator Sanders, in his remarks delivered on the Senate floor, expressed concern over Israel’s war strategy, stating, “While there is no question in my mind that Israel has the right to defend itself and go to war against Hamas, who started this terrible situation, Israel does not have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people and innocent men, women, and children in Gaza.”
The war between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant destruction in Gaza, displacing a majority of the population and pushing more than a quarter of them into starvation, according to the U.N. While the death toll figures provided by the Hamas-run health ministry cannot be independently verified, they claim that more than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 60,000 wounded by Israeli airstrikes. Israel, on the other hand, blames Hamas for the high death toll, stating that the group uses civilian buildings and densely populated areas to launch attacks.
President Biden has expressed support for Israel’s right to self-defense but has also called for a two-state solution and is working to pressure Israel into reducing its troop presence in Gaza. In the meantime, he has requested Congress to pass an additional $60 billion in aid to Israel, in addition to the annual $3.8 billion already approved for military defense.
The resolution put forward by Senator Sanders faced opposition from several Democratic senators who expressed concerns about cutting off aid to Israel and potentially escalating the conflict in the region. Republicans, however, have remained united in their support for Israel, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticizing the resolution as an attempt to tie the hands of a close ally in their battle against terrorists.
In conclusion, the Senate’s rejection of the resolution to freeze U.S. aid to Israel amidst the Israel-Hamas war highlights the division within the Democratic Party on the issue. While some progressive Democrats supported the resolution, the majority, along with the Biden administration, opposed it. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has led to international calls for a ceasefire, and President Biden is working towards a two-state solution and reducing Israel’s troop presence in Gaza. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to support Israel’s right to self-defense and oppose any attempts to cut off aid.
