15 Democrats Support Sanders' Failed Bid to Halt Military Aid to Israel

The Senate has decisively rejected Senator Bernie Sanders' resolution aimed at blocking an $8.8 billion arms deal with Israel, a move backed by 15 senators, including 14 Democrats. The two votes on the proposal, split for procedural reasons, both failed, underscoring the contentious divide among U.S. legislators regarding military aid to Israel.

Among the Democrats joining Sanders were notable names like Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Tim Kaine. It's a lineup that feels as much like a progressive roll call as it does a Senate vote. Sanders, as ever, stood firmly in his convictions, releasing a video ahead of the vote calling for an end to what he described as U.S. complicity in "atrocities" in Gaza. He went on to criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for its "barbaric" behavior, citing humanitarian aid blockages.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, a Republican, took a starkly opposing view, warning that halting the arms deal would mean "abandoning Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, at a pivotal moment for global security." That’s one way to drop the mic in a debate that’s got more layers than an onion.

While Israel’s war with Hamas has fractured Democratic unity, Sanders' resolution highlights just how deep the fissures run. Some Democrats, like Senator John Fetterman, have remained staunchly pro-Israel, while others lean towards the progressive critique of Israeli actions in Gaza. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which lasted from January to early March, saw a temporary influx of humanitarian aid—25,200 aid trucks over the period—but ended with no clear long-term resolution.

The divide among Democrats isn't new. Sanders made a similar attempt to block arms sales under the Biden administration in November 2024, which also failed. Interestingly, some senators who supported Sanders back then changed their tune this time around, including Angus King, Jeanne Shaheen, and Raphael Warnock. Shaheen’s explanation? Her vote aimed to support ongoing ceasefire negotiations and prevent further escalation. Talk about diplomacy trumping principle—or at least appearing to.

Sanders’ rhetoric has hardly softened over time. Back in November, he accused the Israeli government of being controlled by "right-wing extremists" and "religious zealots," while leveling charges of international law violations against Netanyahu. Whether such sharp critiques bring clarity or just more division remains up for debate.

What’s clear is that Israel's status as a bipartisan darling of U.S. foreign policy is increasingly under strain. The latest Senate vote might not change the arms deal outcome, but it does signal a significant shift in the political winds. And for Sanders and his allies, it’s as much about shaping the debate as winning it.