US Senate rejects bids to block arms sales to Israel over Gaza
The two resolutions were introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent aligned with Democrats. They failed by 73 to 24 and 70 to 27 in the 100-member chamber in voting late on Wednesday night.
Similar measures, also introduced by Sanders, failed by 82-15 and 83-15 in April.
A decades-long tradition of strong bipartisan support for Israel in the U.S. Congress means resolutions to stop weapons sales are unlikely to pass, but backers hope raising the issue will encourage Israel's government and the U.S. administration to do more to protect civilians.
All of the votes for the resolutions came from Democrats, with all of President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans opposed. Sanders said in a statement he was pleased that a majority of the Democratic caucus had backed the effort.
"The tide is turning. The American people do not want to spend billions to starve children in Gaza," Sanders said. "The Democrats are moving forward on this issue, and I look forward to Republican support in the near future." Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ammon
38 minutes ago
- Ammon
Israeli strike kills Palestinian Red Crescent staff member, injures 3 others
Ammon News - One staff member of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society was killed and three others were injured early Sunday after Israeli occupation forces bombed the organization's headquarters in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. In a brief statement, the Red Crescent confirmed that the first floor of its building was directly targeted, leading to the killing of one employee, injuries to three others, and a fire breaking out in the targeted area. The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 2023 has so far resulted in at least 60,430 documented Palestinian fatalities, with over 148,722 others injured. Thousands of victims are feared trapped under rubble, inaccessible to emergency and civil defense teams due to Israeli attacks. Israel's genocidal attacks continue unabated despite calls from the UN Security Council for an immediate ceasefire and directives from the International Court of Justice urging measures to prevent genocide and alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. WAFA
Roya News
7 hours ago
- Roya News
Natalie Portman backs "Israeli" anti-war protests, shares Gaza aid link
Hollywood actress Natalie Portman has drawn renewed attention to her stance on "Israel" and Palestine after sharing a series of Instagram Stories amplifying ongoing "Israeli" protests against the government. Among the posts was a call to donate to humanitarian efforts in Gaza, a rare move from a high-profile "Israeli"-American celebrity amid the ongoing war. Portman, who was born in Jerusalem and holds dual citizenship, shared content featuring demonstrators in Tel Aviv demanding an end to the war and the return of "Israeli" captives held in Gaza. One of the posts specifically pointed followers to a campaign collecting donations for Palestinian civilians affected by the genocide, a gesture likely to spark both praise and criticism across the political spectrum. The Oscar-winning actress has long held a nuanced position on the "Israeli"-Palestinian issue. In 2018, she famously declined to attend the Genesis Prize ceremony in "Israel", citing her distress over recent events and her refusal to appear as endorsing then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'Like many Israelis and Jews around the world, I can be critical of the leadership in Israel without wanting to boycott the entire nation,' she wrote at the time. Portman has previously criticized the "Israeli" nation-state law as "racist" and expressed concern about policies that, in her view, undermine equality and democracy. Yet, she has also remained firmly opposed to the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement and has maintained her cultural ties to "Israel", including directing a Hebrew-language film in 2015.
Roya News
15 hours ago
- Roya News
Trump orders nuclear submarine deployment after provocative Russian comments
US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of two American nuclear submarines to "be positioned in the appropriate regions" in response to what he called "highly provocative" comments from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The directive was announced by the President on Friday. The deployment order follows a war of words between Trump and Medvedev, who is now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council. Medvedev had recently issued public statements, which included references to Russia's Soviet-era automated nuclear retaliatory capabilities, in response to a deadline Trump had given Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face new sanctions. In a social media post, Trump stated that he acted "just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that." He added, "Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances." Trump did not specify whether the submarines were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed, nor did he state the exact locations of their deployment, in line with US military protocol. The US President later told reporters that a threat had been made that was "not appropriate," and that he had to be "very careful." He added, "When you talk about nuclear, we have to be prepared. And we're totally prepared." This deployment is being viewed by some security analysts as a rhetorical move rather than a new military action, as US nuclear-powered submarines are routinely on patrol. However, it marks a significant escalation in the public rhetoric between the two nuclear-armed nations. The US Department of Defense has not issued a public comment on the matter, and the Kremlin has not yet officially responded.
