Posted on 11/20/24
| News Source: The Hill
The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to reject a resolution sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to block the sale of certain offensive weapons to Israel in protest of its ongoing military operations in Gaza.
The Senate voted 18 to 79 to defeat S.J. Res. 111, which would have blocked the sale of 120-millimeter tank rounds. It was offered in conjunction with resolutions to block the sale of 120 mm high-explosive mortar rounds and the sale of kits to transform “dumb” bombs into precision-guided weapons.
Sanders emphasized the resolutions were aimed at “offensive weapons that have been used to devastating effects against the civilians of Gaza and Lebanon.” He argued the restrictions would not affect Israel’s ability to defend itself from attacks, but colleagues who opposed his proposals disputed that claim.
Sanders said under the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Control Act, the United States cannot provide weapons to countries that violate internally recognized human rights or block U.S. humanitarian aid, which he accused Israel of doing.
“According to the United Nations, much of the international community, and every humanitarian organization on the ground in Gaze, Israel is clearly in violation of these laws,” Sanders said on the floor. “Under these circumstances, it is illegal for the U.S. government to provide Israel with more offensive weapons.”
Israel launched a war in Gaza against Hamas, which is the governing authority of Gaza. It did so after Hamas attacked Israel and killed more than 1,200 people, most of them civilians.
Sanders cited the deaths of more than 40,000 people in Gaza, a number compiled by the Palestinian Health Ministry, an agency in the Hamas-run government, and the destruction of most of Gaza’s infrastructure.