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3471Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is calling out Congress for approving an $8.8 billion military aid package to Israel despite obvious public opposition and mounting concerns about the behavior of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in Gaza.
The Vermont senator is once again challenging the bipartisan consensus on military support for Israel, urging lawmakers to consider the will of the American people rather than powerful lobbying groups.
Only 15% of Americans Support the Aid, Sanders Says
“Recent polls show that only 15% of Americans support increasing military aid to Netanyahu,” Sanders wrote in a post on X. “Yet, Congress just rubber-stamped Trump’s plan to send $8.8 billion more.”
The military aid bill, which received support from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, passed despite Sanders introducing two separate resolutions to stop it.
Both efforts failed in the Senate, highlighting how isolated Sanders and his allies remain on the issue. Only 15 senators voted in favor of the resolutions, 14 of whom are Democrats.
“Republicans and Democrats took a constitutional oath to represent the American people, not AIPAC,” Sanders added, referencing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful pro-Israel lobbying organization that frequently influences U.S. policy in the region.
Who Voted With Sanders
The 15 Democrats who supported Sanders included Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, and Jeff Merkley of Oregon.
These lawmakers have grown more vocal in their concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel’s military actions.
This is not Sanders’ first attempt to curb military aid to Israel. He introduced a similar resolution in 2024 under the Biden administration, which also failed.
The core group of Democratic senators who supported that earlier measure mostly stayed consistent in their stance this time around, though a few who had backed it in 2024 flipped their position.
A Divided Democratic Party
Support for Israel has long been a bipartisan norm in Washington. But the latest conflict with Hamas and rising civilian casualties in Gaza have deepened divisions, especially among Democrats.
While some, such as Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, continue to strongly support Israel, others like Sanders believe U.S. aid should come with conditions or be halted altogether.
In a video released ahead of the Senate vote, Sanders said the United States must “end our complicity in these atrocities” in Gaza.
He did not mince words in his criticism of Netanyahu’s leadership, describing it as “barbaric” and claiming it has blocked essential humanitarian aid from reaching Palestinians in need.
Conflicting Views on Humanitarian Access
Israeli officials have pushed back on claims that aid is being blocked. They report that more than 25,000 aid trucks entered Gaza between Jan. 19 and March 2 during a temporary ceasefire, averaging roughly 4,200 trucks per week.
The truce also resulted in the release of 33 Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners before talks broke down in early March.
Despite those figures, Sanders and other critics argue that the overall humanitarian situation in Gaza remains devastating.
They believe continued U.S. military support to Israel, especially without conditions, only worsens the suffering and damages America’s global reputation.
Their concern was underscored by a recent Israeli military admission: On March 23, Israeli forces killed 15 emergency workers in southern Gaza.
The convoy, which included Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances, a UN vehicle, and a Civil Defence fire truck, was responding to an emergency call near Rafah when it came under fire.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initially claimed the convoy was moving without headlights or prior coordination.
But mobile phone footage found on one of the victims—paramedic Refat Radwan—showed the vehicles were clearly marked and had lights on. In the video, Radwan can be heard praying moments before gunfire erupts.
An IDF official later admitted the soldiers made mistakes and said at least six of the medics had ties to Hamas, though no evidence has been provided to support that claim.
The IDF now acknowledges the medics were unarmed. The bodies were buried by soldiers and not recovered until a week later due to safety issues faced by aid teams.
The Red Crescent and international organizations are demanding an independent investigation.
A surviving paramedic told the BBC the team was wearing reflective gear, had emergency lights on, and had no links to any militant groups.
Why Some Democrats Voted Against It
Notably, some senators who had previously supported Sanders’ 2024 resolution changed their vote this time.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, for example, said she decided to vote against the April 2025 proposal because of ongoing efforts to restore the ceasefire.
“With the delicate negotiations to restore the ceasefire happening right now, I voted against the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval on arms sales to Israel to encourage progress in those conversations,” Shaheen explained in a statement.
Her comments reflect a common concern among moderate Democrats—that opposing the arms deal at this time could derail fragile diplomatic efforts.
Still, critics argue that continued unconditional support only weakens America’s leverage and fails to reflect the values it claims to uphold.
Sanders Stays the Course
Despite two failed attempts and a lack of widespread support in the Senate, Sanders remains determined to challenge the status quo.
His message is that if public opinion is largely against more military aid, Congress should not act as though it has a blank check to send billions abroad without scrutiny.
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