The US Senate overwhelmingly rejected a bid to block $8.8 billion in arms sales to Israel over the human rights crisis facing Palestinians in Gaza following Israel’s bombardment of the enclave and suspension of humanitarian aid deliveries, Reuters reports.
The Senate voted 82-15 and 83-15 to reject two resolutions of disapproval over sales of massive bombs and other offensive military equipment. The resolutions were offered by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.
In each case, Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin voted “present.”
In remarks urging support for the resolutions, Sanders described the toll on civilians — with thousands of children facing malnutrition and starvation, especially from a recent blockade of humanitarian assistance.
“What is happening right now is unthinkable. Today it is 31 days and counting with absolutely no humanitarian aid getting into Gaza, nothing. No food, no water, no medicine, no fuel, for over a month,” Sanders said.
