In a significant move, the US Senate overwhelmingly rejected a resolution proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders that sought to make military aid to Israel contingent on whether human rights violations were occurring in its conflict with the Gaza Strip. The resolution, which received 11 votes in favor and 72 against, was deemed unsuccessful, effectively ending the motion.

Sanders emphasized the need to ensure that US aid aligns with human rights and domestic laws, citing the extensive destruction in Gaza as a humanitarian catastrophe. The proposed measure leveraged the Foreign Assistance Act, requiring the US State Department to report to Congress within 30 days on potential human rights violations by Israel in its Gaza operations. Failure to do so could have led to a swift halt in US military aid to Israel.

Senator Chris Coons and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham opposed the resolution, expressing concerns about jeopardizing ongoing US support for Israel during its conflict with Hamas. Despite the resolution's rejection, it highlighted growing apprehension among some Democrats, including President Joe Biden's fellow party members, regarding the supply of US weapons to Israel amid a significant civilian death toll in Gaza.

While the White House opposed the resolution, viewing it as a potential threat to security assistance conditions, advocates like Andrew O’Neill of Indivisible considered the introduction of the bill historic. He noted that challenging the Senate's longstanding unanimous support for Israel's military was itself a remarkable development.

The rejection comes at a time when anti-Israel sentiments are gaining traction in the US, with calls for President Biden to reconsider support for Israel's one-sided war against Gaza. The US currently provides $3.8 billion in military assistance to Israel annually, and Biden has requested Congress to approve an additional $14 billion.