The resolutions, formally known as Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD), represent the only legislative mechanism available to Congress to halt an arms sale. Sanders' move follows a U.S. arms sale to Israel in August totaling more than $20 billion. The package included systems allegedly tied to civilian casualties in Gaza. In a statement announcing the JRD filings, Sanders cited these concerns, emphasizing that exporting such weapons would violate both the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). “On October 7, 2023, Hamas waged a terrorist attack against Israel, killing 1,200 innocent people and taking over 240 hostages,” said Sanders. “Israel, of course, had the right to defend itself against Hamas. It did not, however, have the right to wage an all-out war against the Palestinian people, which is what Prime Minister Netanyahu’s extremist government has done.” More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 100,000 injured in Israel’s military response, around 70 percent of whom are women and children noncombatants. A recent report from The Lancet medical journal estimates that the death toll in Gaza, when factoring in indirect deaths caused by things like disease and famine, could reach as high as 186,000.Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has announced plans to introduce joint resolutions aimed at blocking the sale of offensive military weaponry to Israel.
Netanyahu’s right-wing, extremist government is violating international & US law and has created a humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Today, I announced that I will file Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to stop the sale of U.S. arms to Israel and end our complicity in this disaster. pic.twitter.com/mPZEVBlO44
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) September 18, 2024
Under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the AECA, the U.S. is prohibited from selling weapons to any government that engages in a pattern of human rights violations, including torture, degrading punishment, prolonged detention without charges, or the forced disappearance of individuals.
Sanders argues that Israel's recent military actions in Gaza make it "clearly" ineligible for U.S. arms sales.
“Sadly, and illegally, much of the carnage in Gaza has been carried out with U.S.-provided military equipment,” Sanders continued. “Providing more offensive weapons to continue this disastrous war would violate U.S. and international law. The sales would reward Netanyahu’s extremist government, even as it continues to cause massive destruction in Gaza, undermine the prospects of a ceasefire deal that would secure the release of the hostages, and advance its effort to illegally annex the West Bank.”
A fact sheet accompanying Sanders' announcement outlined the details of the arms sales approved by the Biden administration in August while Congress was in recess. The package includes:
According to the fact sheet, these systems have been used in attacks on humanitarian facilities and civilian populations, targeting men, women and children who had no involvement in the October 7 attack by Hamas. “Congress must act to save lives, uphold U.S. and international law, and stand up for U.S. Interests,” Sanders added. “We must end our complicity in Israel’s illegal and indiscriminate military campaign, which has caused mass civilian death and suffering.”
