U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has moved to block a significant arms deal between the Trump administration and Israel, citing humanitarian concerns and potential violations of international law. The proposed $8.56 billion arms sale comes amid Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, which Sanders and several human rights organizations argue has resulted in unprecedented civilian casualties and widespread destruction.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration notified Congress of its approval for four major offensive arms sales to Israel. The breakdown of the sales is as follows:
- $6.75 billion for 2,166 Small Diameter Bombs, 2,800 500-pound bombs, and tens of thousands of fuzes and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits.
- $688 million for 15,500 additional JDAM guidance kits and 615 Small Diameter Bombs.
- $660 million for 3,000 Hellfire Air-to-Ground Missiles.
- $312.5 million for 10,000 155mm High Explosive artillery shells.
The weapons included in the deal are the same munitions that have been implicated in the devastation of large portions of Gaza and southern Lebanon. These sales are being challenged due to allegations that their use directly contributed to tens of thousands of civilian deaths and widespread infrastructure destruction.
The sales raise serious legal questions under both domestic and international law. The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961and the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) require that arms transfers align with U.S. foreign policy interests and uphold international human rights standards. According to Sanders, the export of these weapons “would clearly violate the criteria laid out in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act.”
Human rights organizations have documented numerous incidents in which these weapon systems have been linked to extensive civilian deaths and destruction of civilian infrastructure. Under these laws, any arms sales that contribute to human rights abuses are prohibited, placing the legality of the Trump administration’s approval in question.
In response to the arms deal approval, Sanders filed four Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) last week. These resolutions are a formal legislative attempt to block the arms sales, initiating a 10-calendar-day period for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to review the measures. Should the committee fail to act, Sanders can force a floor vote to discharge the resolutions from committee consideration.
In his statement, Sanders acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which resulted in the death of 1,200 people and the taking of more than 240 hostages. However, Sanders was sharply critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s subsequent actions, stating:
“But Netanyahu’s extremist government has instead waged an all-out war against the entire Palestinian people, killing more than 48,000 and injuring more than 111,000—the vast majority of whom are women and children.”
Sanders emphasized the devastating consequences of U.S.-supplied weaponry, noting:
“Netanyahu has used our bombs to damage or destroy almost 70 percent of the structures in Gaza, including hundreds of schools. All of this has been done in clear violation of U.S. and international law.”
He further condemned any future arms transfers under current conditions, stating:
“With Trump and Netanyahu openly talking about forcibly displacing millions of Palestinians from Gaza—in other words, ethnic cleansing—it would be unconscionable to provide more of the bombs and weapons Israel has used to kill so many civilians and make life unlivable in Gaza.”
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels. Reports indicate that over 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, with more than 111,000 injured. The destruction extends beyond human casualties, with nearly 70% of Gaza’s infrastructure—including homes, hospitals, and schools—reportedly damaged or destroyed.
Much of this devastation has been attributed to weapon systems provided by the United States, with human rights organizations documenting instances where U.S.-supplied munitions were used in attacks that caused mass civilian casualties. The scale of destruction has drawn international condemnation, with many alleging violations of international humanitarian law.
Since taking office, Trump has shown strong support for Netanyahu’s government, including imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for their roles in the assault on Gaza. Trump has also entertained the idea of a potential U.S. takeover of Gaza and has hosted Netanyahu at the White House.
These developments have heightened tensions on the international stage, with the U.S. facing criticism for enabling what many view as war crimes through its continued military support of Israel.
This is not the first time Sanders has challenged U.S. military aid to Israel. In November, while former President Biden was still in office, Sanders forced votes on three separate JRDs aimed at blocking arms sales to Israel. Although those resolutions did not pass—garnering support from only 17 to 19 senators and no Republican votes—they represented a notable shift in sentiment among Senate Democrats and Independents.
At the time, Demand Progress senior policy adviser Cavan Kharrazian described the votes as historic:
“Never before have so many senators voted to restrict arms transfers to Israel, and we are extremely grateful to those who did. This historic vote represents a sea change in how elected Democrats feel about the Israeli military’s campaign of death and destruction in Gaza.”
Beyond Sanders’ legislative efforts, international organizations are increasingly pressuring the U.S. over its military support for Israel. Democracy for the Arab World Now has recently called on ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan to investigate former President Biden, as well as his former Secretaries of Defense and State, Lloyd Austin and Anthony Blinken, for allegedly “aiding and abetting” war crimes in Gaza.
Domestically, progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups have intensified their calls for accountability, pushing for a re-examination of U.S. foreign policy that prioritizes human rights and international law over political alliances.
Even if the resolutions fail to pass, the growing dissent within the Senate reflects an increasing discomfort among progressive lawmakers with the status quo of unconditional military support for Israel.
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