In a striking display of division within the Democratic Party, the U.S. Senate voted late Wednesday evening to reject a resolution that would have restricted certain weapons sales to Israel.
According to the Daily Caller, the vote, which ended 27-70, underscored deep partisan and intra-party tensions over U.S. support for Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
The resolution, introduced by Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, sought to block at least $675 million in arms transfers to Israel. Specifically, it targeted the sale of tens of thousands of assault rifles. The measure was rejected, with every Senate Republican voting against it.
More than half of the Senate Democratic caucus broke ranks to support the resolution, highlighting growing concerns over Israel's actions in Gaza. Many Democrats who backed the measure expressed worry that Israel is not doing enough to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the region. This vote marked a significant departure from traditional party unity on foreign policy issues involving Israel.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer voted against the resolution, aligning with Republicans on this issue. Despite his stance, a record number of Democrats favored restricting the arms sales, reflecting internal party discord. The rejection of the measure showed the difficulty of altering long-standing U.S. support for Israel.
A second resolution by Senator Sanders, which aimed to block the sale of two types of bombs and guidance kits to Israel, was also defeated. The vote on this measure was 24-73, with similar opposition from Republicans and some Democrats. This further cemented the Senate’s stance on continuing military support for Israel during its conflict.
Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia voted in favor of blocking the rifle sales, citing concerns over Israel's approach to the war. “I do not believe the United States Senate should acquiesce without objection to the extreme mass deprivation of civilians in Gaza, including the intolerable starvation of children, that have resulted from the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government,” Ossoff said. However, he opposed the second resolution on bombs and guidance kits, arguing that Israel has a right to defend itself.
Senate Republicans presented a united front, voting as a bloc against both resolutions. Their votes demonstrated unwavering support for Israel and its leadership under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This stance was echoed by Senator Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“The solution to all of this isn’t to deprive Israel of the weapons it needs,” Risch stated. “The solution is in the hands of Hamas,” he added, placing responsibility on the opposing side of the conflict. Republicans criticized Democrats like Ossoff for their votes against arms sales.
Nick Puglia, NRSC Regional Press Secretary, sharply rebuked Ossoff’s position. “Jon Ossoff is a radical leftist who time and again refuses to stand with Georgia’s Jewish community,” Puglia said. “He’d rather please the pro-Hamas extremists in his party than stand with Israel and Jewish Georgians. In 2026, voters will send him packing,” he added.
The White House made its position clear, stating that President Trump would veto the measures if they had passed the Senate. This warning was first reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation. The administration’s policy emphasized the importance of standing with Israel as an ally.
A White House statement highlighted that the weapons transfers are critical for Israel to deter and defeat regional threats. This underscored the administration’s commitment to ensuring Israel’s military capabilities remain robust. The veto threat added another layer of certainty to the resolutions’ defeat in the Senate.
Three Senate Democrats—Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, and Mark Kelly of Arizona—did not cast votes on either resolution. These lawmakers are often seen as rising stars within the Democratic Party. They have positioned themselves as moderates on various issues, which may explain their absence from this contentious vote. The Senate’s rejection of both resolutions signals a continued U.S. policy of strong military support for Israel. However, the significant Democratic support for restricting arms sales indicates a potential shift in future debates. This vote may serve as a precursor to more intense discussions on U.S.-Israel relations.
The conflict in Gaza, which fueled the push for these resolutions, remains a point of contention among lawmakers. Many who supported Sanders’ measures cited the humanitarian crisis as a driving factor in their decision. The issue is likely to resurface as the situation in Gaza continues to evolve. The Senate vote has not resolved the underlying tensions over U.S. involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Democrats remain divided on how to balance support for Israel with concerns over civilian suffering in Gaza. This debate is expected to persist in Congress as the war continues.