Sanders forces a vote to block $446M US weapons sales to Israel amid Gaza concerns

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Bernie Sanders is set to force a Senate vote on Wednesday, April 15, aimed at blocking US weapons sales to Israel, marking his latest attempt to challenge military support for the longtime ally.

The resolutions target the sale of weapons and bulldozers worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

While similar measures have previously failed, the vote is expected to gauge shifting sentiment among Democrats.

The move comes amid growing debate within the party over US policy toward Israel and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

Sanders pushes to block weapons sales 

Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, is introducing two resolutions that would halt arms transfers to Israel.

One measure seeks to block a $151.8 million sale of 12,000 1,000-pound bombs, while the second would prevent the sale of $295 million worth of bulldozers.

This marks the fourth time Sanders has brought forward such resolutions, though previous efforts have been rejected by the Republican-controlled Senate, along with opposition from some Democrats.

Despite that track record, the upcoming vote is expected to serve as a measure of evolving political dynamics within the Democratic Party.

Ahead of the vote, Sanders criticized the Israeli government’s actions and pointed to declining public support. “Let us be clear: given the horrific and illegal behavior of the Netanyahu government over the last three years, the American people have had enough.

Support for Israel in this country has plummeted,” he said, citing recent polling data.

He also framed the vote as a broader political test, adding, “maybe, just maybe, the Senate should start listening to their constituents and not just to the wealthy individuals who fund Aipac. And that is what today’s vote is all about.” 

Democratic splits deepen over Israel policy pressure

The vote comes as some progressive Democrats continue to push for stricter limits on US military assistance to Israel.

In the House of Representatives, lawmakers, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have voiced opposition to continued aid.

She said earlier this month that she would “not support Congress sending more taxpayer dollars and military aid to a government that consistently ignores international law and US law.”

Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) departs from a town hall gathering on May 2, 2025, in New York City (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Representative Ro Khanna has also expressed support for reevaluating assistance, stating, “I do believe Iron Dome is important in terms of saving lives. Israel can buy it with their own money." 

Outside Congress, advocacy groups have intensified efforts to influence lawmakers.

A coalition of organizations, including Indivisible, MoveOn, J Street and Jewish Voice for Peace, urged senators to support Sanders’s resolutions.

In a letter, they described the proposed weapons sales as raising “urgent legal and moral concerns,” citing their reported use in densely populated areas and associated civilian casualties.