Senator Bernie Sanders introduces resolution to stop arms sales to Israel
Senator Bernie Sanders just spoke on the Senate floor in support of two resolutions that would stop the sale of offensive weapons to Israel over its bombardment of the besieged civilian population of Gaza.
Ahead of a vote on the resolutions scheduled for Wednesday night, Sanders delivered his plea for the Senate to block $675.7m in bombs paid for by US taxpayers and the sale of tens of thousands of fully automatic assault rifles in front on images of starving Palestinian children. He also placed a large stack of papers on his desk with the names of 18,500 children who have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza published on Wednesday by the Washington Post.
“What the extremist Netanyahu government is doing now is not an effort to win a war; there is no military purpose in starving thousands and thousands of children,” Sanders said. “Let us be clear: this is not an effort to win a war; this is an effort to destroy a people.”
Sanders added that, by one estimate, 70% of the cost of destroying Gaza has been paid for by American taxpayers. He also noted that the arms sales clearly violate two US laws: the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act.
“Tonight we have the power to act,” Sanders said. “The power to force Netanyahu and his extremist government to end this slaughter.”
The two resolutions introduced by Sanders were supported by colleagues including his allies Peter Welch, Vermont’s junior senator, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the New York congresswoman who has toured the country with Sanders for “Fighting Oligarchy” rallies.
“The mass starvation in Gaza must end,” Welch said in remarks after Sanders spoke. “The forced displacement of 2 million Palestinians in Gaza must end.”
“It is unthinkable that at this moment, when a third of Gaza has not eaten in days, the Senate would green light the bombs, guns, and munitions that have already been used to kill 60,000 Palestinians,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement. “Today, every Senator has a choice to make: they can uphold US law by preventing the transfer of these weapons, or they can cower to Netanyahu and hand over the arms being used to perpetuate a genocide.”
In an interview with CNN on Tuesday night, Sanders was asked if Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was lying when he said there is no starvation in Gaza. “Of course he’s lying,” Sanders replied. “He is a disgusting liar.”
“,”elementId”:”f1fc2e77-2d63-43fb-9292-ffd379ba99a0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
- n
- n
The US senate voted overwhelmingly against two resolutions introduced by Bernie Sanders to block arms sales to Israel over its destruction of Gaza, but a dozen Democratic senators who voted against the move in April support it now.
- n
California Democrats who have entered the race to be the state’s next governor praised former vice-president Kamala Harris on Wednesday after her decision not to run for the office.
- n
Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he has agreed to a new trade deal with South Korea that will subject imports to a 15% tariff rate. South Korean importers will pay no tariffs on US goods they purchase.
- n
Brown University announced on Wednesday it “reached a voluntary agreement with the federal government to restore funding for the University’s federally sponsored medical and health sciences research and resolve three open reviews assessing Brown’s compliance with federal nondiscrimination obligations”.
- n
The US Federal Reserve elected to hold its benchmark interest rate steady at between 4.25 and 4.5%, a rate it has maintained since the end of 2024. Two Trump-appointed officials on the central bank dissented.
n
n
n
n
n
“,”elementId”:”b071c594-5b2d-48fb-9379-436fcd9e5e91″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:false,”summary”:true},”blockCreatedOn”:1753927187000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”02.59 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1753927472000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”03.04 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1753927415000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”03.03 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”03.03″,”title”:”Closing summary”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 31 Jul 2025 03.04 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 30 Jul 2025 11.12 BST”},{“id”:”688accf38f08d10b04f31be3″,”elements”:[{[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The senate just voted to defeat the second of two resolutions from Bernie Sanders to end arms sales to Israel, with 73 votes against and just 24 in favor.
“,”elementId”:”4fe4774a-0040-4dac-a500-2e0c28feafe8″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1753926899000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”02.54 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1753927183000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”02.59 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1753927184000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”02.59 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”02.59″,”title”:”Sanders measure to stop sale of $675m of bombs to Israel defeated in US senate”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 31 Jul 2025 03.04 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 30 Jul 2025 11.12 BST”},{“id”:”688ac8888f08d10b04f31bc3″,”elements”:[{[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The Senate just voted overwhelmingly against the first of two resolutions introduced by Bernie Sanders on Wednesday to block arms sales to Israel over its destruction of Gaza.
“,”elementId”:”679028a9-a9a0-49d9-bea9-1c19e7adad78″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The measure, SJ Res41, would have stopped the sale of tens of thousands of fully automatic assault rifles to Israel.
“,”elementId”:”7e434d48-5f77-4b8b-9a49-b30c3a5efbdf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The final tally was 70 votes against and 27 in favor.
“,”elementId”:”64d1d220-2852-4caf-be4e-5e407bc1d679″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader from New York, and Cory Booker, a Democratic senator of New Jersey, voted against the measure, but progressives like Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, were joined by moderates including Jon Ossoff of Georgia, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Dick Durbin of Illinois, in supporting the effort to cut off arms supplies to Israel.
“,”elementId”:”769ddecc-8afa-4ac5-bb4b-37abd80adb3c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Twelve of the Democrats who voted for the measure previously voted in April against a similar resolution, NBC reports.
“,”elementId”:”ce2adb98-0491-4c58-a8ed-e3218ea9404a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
A vote on a second resolution, to block the sale of $675.7m in bombs, is now in progress.
“,”elementId”:”b641681a-2a35-4982-851a-1a581e4322e4″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1753925768000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”02.36 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1753927006000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”02.56 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1753926730000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”02.52 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”02.52″,”title”:”Sanders’ resolution to end US sales of assault rifles to Israel overwhelmingly defeated in Senate”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 31 Jul 2025 03.04 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 30 Jul 2025 11.12 BST”},{“id”:”688ac3608f08dc862cec3b3a”,”elements”:[{[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
As the Senate begins to vote on resolutions introduced by Bernie Sanders that would stop arms sales to Israel, his Democratic colleague, Reverend Raphael Warnock of Georgia, said in a statement that he supports the measures.
“,”elementId”:”d3197bfa-8a2b-4beb-a9d9-a0a69a83ada7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
n
It is wrong to starve children and other innocent civilians to death. Yet, whether through gross incompetence, woeful indifference, or some combination thereof, that is exactly what is happening right now in Gaza under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. It is a moral atrocity that cannot abide the conscience of those who believe in human dignity, freedom, and human thriving. That is why I will vote to support the Joint Resolution of Disapproval put before the Senate tonight.
n
I’ve made clear I support the state of Israel and its right to defend itself. Today, I urge the state of Israel, the United States, and the world to move as quickly as possible to get the people of Gaza the same nourishment and care that we would want for our own children.
n
I pray for a ceasefire and the return of the hostages home to their families, and look forward to resuming the work of securing peace and safety for all those in the region.
n
“,”elementId”:”2b4cc9ba-194a-4750-9486-87158041ac3f”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1753924448000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”02.14 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1753925276000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”02.27 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1753924676000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”02.17 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”02.17″,”title”:”Warnock endorses ‘vote to pressure Israel to stop famine in Gaza'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 31 Jul 2025 03.04 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 30 Jul 2025 11.12 BST”},{“id”:”688ac2038f08dc862cec3b32″,”elements”:[{[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
As the Senate continues to debate resolutions introduced by Bernie Sanders that would stop arms sales to Israel, ahead of a vote, Elizabeth Warren voiced her support for the measures.
“,”elementId”:”62ebe277-f098-4713-be8f-804e5f1cff4b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“Donald Trump promised peace in Gaza, but he’s abandoned ceasefire talks while babies starve,” Warren wrote on Bluesky. “If Trump is too weak to act, then Congress must step up. No more US military support for Netanyahu to wage war in Gaza.”
“,”elementId”:”9ac24fd2-d60d-442a-a1ad-fc51e8cc1927″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1753924099000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”02.08 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1753925198000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”02.26 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1753924352000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”02.12 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”02.12″,”title”:”Elizabeth Warren calls for end of arms sales to Israel ahead of Senate vote”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 31 Jul 2025 03.04 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 30 Jul 2025 11.12 BST”},{“id”:”688ab4558f08d10b04f31b5e”,”elements”:[{[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
As our colleague William Christou reports from Jerusalem, at least 48 Palestinians were killed and dozens were wounded on Wednesday while waiting for food at a crossing in Gaza, according to a local hospital that received the casualties.
“,”elementId”:”36cc0291-e27d-4d78-b040-fc77d739e6d4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The latest violence around aid distribution came one day after Donald Trump was praised for calling images of starving children there “terrible”, but also endorsed the chaotic Israeli-run system for aid distribution, with US support, that has led to the deaths of more than 1,000 Palestinians since May.
n Israel’s ongoing military offensive and blockade have led to the “worst-case scenario of famine” in the coastal territory of some 2 million Palestinians, according to the leading international authority on hunger crises. A breakdown of law and order, since Israel insisted on replacing a functioning system of aid deliveries run by the United Nations for decades, has seen aid convoys overwhelmed by desperate crowds and live ammunition being fired at civilians seeking aid by Israeli forces and US contractors.
“,”elementId”:”6eabc54a-f547-48d8-8939-954ceede0608″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
While Israel announced this weekend that it would allow more aid into Gaza, the new measures, which include daily pauses in the bombardment, as well as airdropped aid and humanitarian corridors for UN aid trucks, experienced aid workers have said that Israel has intentionally created the starvation crisis, which has seen 151 Palestinians die of hunger, more than half of whom died in the past month alone.
“,”elementId”:”79cf6ccd-47cf-4da8-8f57-2d1faeb8e22b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
On Wednesday night, al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City said that the dozens who were killed and wounded were among crowds massed at the Zikim crossing, the main entry point for humanitarian aid to northern Gaza.
n Associated Press footage showed bodies being ferried away from the scene of the shooting in ambulances and wooden carts, as well as crowds of people carrying bags of flour.
“,”elementId”:”43107c80-8370-4096-ab47-2fef85243739″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1753920597000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”01.09 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1753925283000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”02.28 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1753923996000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”02.06 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”02.06″,”title”:”At least 48 Palestinians killed and more injured while seeking food one day after Trump endorsed Israel-run aid distribution”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 31 Jul 2025 03.04 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 30 Jul 2025 11.12 BST”},{“id”:”688ab53f8f08e66ccdc02acb”,”elements”:[{[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Senator Bernie Sanders just spoke on the Senate floor in support of two resolutions that would stop the sale of offensive weapons to Israel over its bombardment of the besieged civilian population of Gaza.
“,”elementId”:”eaef1fcb-4e7a-4910-bd4d-cfb09a66760f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Ahead of a vote on the resolutions scheduled for Wednesday night, Sanders delivered his plea for the Senate to block $675.7m in bombs paid for by US taxpayers and the sale of tens of thousands of fully automatic assault rifles in front on images of starving Palestinian children. He also placed a large stack of papers on his desk with the names of 18,500 children who have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza published on Wednesday by the Washington Post.
“,”elementId”:”c2562433-0c3e-4fd1-ad62-d5f4730c7618″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
“What the extremist Netanyahu government is doing now is not an effort to win a war; there is no military purpose in starving thousands and thousands of children,” Sanders said. “Let us be clear: this is not an effort to win a war; this is an effort to destroy a people.”
“,”elementId”:”9cd6d009-5d17-4824-89ce-1a6ac243d79e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:&qu