The United States Senate has dismissed a proposal aimed at conditioning security assistance to Israel. Late Tuesday, senators overwhelmingly voted against the measure, which would have frozen security aid to Israel unless the Department of State provided a report within 30 days assessing potential human rights abuses by Israel in its operations in Gaza.
Seventy-two senators voted to put the resolution aside, contrasted with the 11 who supported it, easily surpassing the simple majority required to dismiss the resolution in the 100-member chamber.
The vote was initiated by Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who aligns with Democrats. Although defeated decisively, the resolution showcased growing apprehension among some in President Joe Biden’s party, particularly among left-leaning Democrats, about the ongoing U.S. arms supply to Israel despite the significant Palestinian civilian toll during the Gaza conflict.
“We must ensure that U.S. aid is being used in accordance with human rights and our own laws,” Sanders stated, pushing for backing of the resolution. He expressed regret over the Senate’s failure to deliberate any measures assessing the war’s impact on civilians.
Sanders’ proposal called for a halt to aid and requested a human rights assessment under the Foreign Assistance Act, which empowers Congress to instruct the state to supply such a report on any country receiving U.S. security support.
Sanders emphasized the dire situation in Gaza, citing the severe malnutrition among hundreds of thousands of children: “We cannot look away. We must take action,” he urged. He described worsening conditions despite United Nations efforts and a growing humanitarian crisis, highlighting the challenges in delivering aid to those in need, particularly children.
Had the senators approved the resolution, it would have required the State Department to issue a report to Congress within 30 days. Following the report’s delivery, Congress might have considered further resolutions suggesting amendments to the U.S. security assistance provided to Israel.
The White House dismissed Sanders’ approach as “unworkable,” with the Biden administration focusing on facilitating a transition with Israel and securing support both domestically and internationally against the increasing outcry generated by the images of devastation from Gaza.
The Biden administration has reportedly encouraged Israel to decrease civilian fatalities. Yet Israel maintains its stance on not ceasing operations until Hamas, the governing body in Gaza, is entirely cleared from the coastal strip.
The conflict commenced with a Hamas-led surprise offensive across the border on October 7, culminating in 1,139 deaths. According to Gaza’s health authorities, the latest count reveals at least 24,285 individuals have perished in the embattled enclave due to Israeli strikes. There is also a fear that thousands more remain unaccounted for beneath the rubble.
Israel’s intensive bombardment has displaced most inhabitants of Gaza, a region with a population of 2.3 million, often resulting in multiple displacements, and has triggered a humanitarian crisis with shortages in food, fuel, and medical supplies due to Israel’s longstanding blockade of Gaza.
