US Senate Rejects Bid to Block Arms Sales to Israel

The failed motions, led by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), sought to halt $295 million in Caterpillar D9 bulldozer shipments and the sale of 12,000 BLU-110A/B bomb bodies. While the Senate defeated SJ Res. 32 and SJ Res. 138 by margins of 59-40 and 63-36 respectively, supporters characterized the tally as a significant shift. Just one year ago, similar efforts commanded only 27 votes.

Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) framed the opposition as a necessary break from the current administration’s military policy, warning that continued arms shipments serve only to escalate regional instability. Outside the chamber, the outcome drew sharp rebuke from activists and policy experts. Matt Duss, executive vice president at the Center for International Policy, labeled the Democratic holdouts—including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer—as "cowardly," noting that the humanitarian situation in the occupied territories has deteriorated since lawmakers previously pledged to reconsider military support.

Since October 2023, the US has provided over $21 billion in military aid to Israel, even as the International Criminal Court pursues arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Despite the defeat, proponents of the resolutions argue that the support of over 80% of the Democratic caucus marks a new threshold in legislative efforts to hold the Israeli government accountable for its conduct in the war.