Congress rejects resolution restricting support for Israel
The resolution project reflects growing concerns among some Democratic allies of Biden, especially the left-wing, regarding the supply of American weapons to Israel despite the significant losses in Gaza that affected Palestinian civilians
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution that would have compelled the State Department to prepare a report within 30 days to investigate whether Israel committed human rights violations in its war against the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza. This indicates the level of legal, political, and military support that Washington provides to the State of Israel.
Seventy-two members of the Senate voted against the resolution project, while 11 members supported it, achieving the necessary majority for its easy rejection in the 100-member council.
The vote was prompted by the initiative of Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent aligned with members of the Democratic Party. Despite the easy rejection of the resolution project, it reflects the growing concern among some Democratic allies of President Joe Biden, especially the left-wing, regarding the supply of American weapons to Israel despite the significant losses in Gaza that affected Palestinian civilians.
Sanders, in a speech before the vote, urged support for the resolution, stating, “We must ensure that American aid is used in accordance with human rights and our laws.” He expressed regret that the Senate did not consider any action that examines the impact of the war on civilians.
The White House stated its opposition to the resolution, which could have paved the way for imposing conditions on military aid to Israel.
Senators who opposed this measure argued that it sends the wrong message at a time when Israel claims to be shifting to a more targeted campaign.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stated, “This resolution is not only off base but dangerous. It sends a completely wrong signal at the wrong time.”
The United States grants Israel $3.8 billion in aid every year, ranging from fighter jets to powerful bombs that can destroy Hamas tunnels. Biden requested Congress to approve an additional $14 billion.
The resolution project, prepared by Sanders under the Foreign Assistance Act, allows Congress to direct the State Department to issue a report on human rights and other information about any country receiving American military assistance.
If the resolution had been adopted, it would have required the State Department to submit a report to Congress within 30 days. After receiving the report, Congress could have considered another resolution proposing changes to U.S. military assistance to Israel.
Israel waged war to eliminate Hamas after its fighters breached the border fence on October 7 and killed 1,200 people, holding 240 hostages, according to Israel.
The health authorities in Gaza, whose data the United Nations largely considers reliable, stated that the war, entering its fourth month, had led to the death of 24,285 people in the Palestinian territory until Tuesday. Thousands of bodies are feared to be buried under the rubble left by Israeli airstrikes.
The war has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million population from their homes, with some being displaced multiple times, causing a humanitarian crisis with shortages of food, medicine, and fuel.
The Biden administration claims to have urged Israel to minimize civilian casualties, but Israel says it will not stop until Hamas is eliminated, and militants show no signs of losing their means of resistance.
