A growing number of Senate Democrats are starting to shift their criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza from words into actions.
More than half of the 47-member Senate Democratic Caucus voted late Wednesday to block weapons sales to Israel, effectively punishing Mr. Netanyahu for his role in the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where children are reportedly dying of starvation.
“You have to start making it clear that this is not OK anymore, and that’s why other world leaders are doing it,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Democrat. “There has to be a push back because it is in their power to allow more aid in immediately. It’s in their power to look to the long term for a two-state solution.”
The pair of votes to block arms sales to Israel failed as Republicans remained united in opposition, but the exercise showed Democrats’ already disparate positioning over Israel further splintering.
“The American people, whether they’re Democrats, Republicans, independents, understand that it is disgraceful that U.S. taxpayers are supporting the policies of the Netanyahu government, which are destroying the Palestinian people, and in fact, as of this moment, starving children to death,” Vermont Sen. Bernard Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, told The Washington Times.
“I’m glad that more and more Democrats in the Senate understand that,” he said. “I expect that in the near future, you’ll be seeing some Republicans coming on board as well.”
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer voted against stopping the weapons shipments.
The New York Democrat and highest-ranking Jewish U.S. official said that “security assistance to Israel is not about any one government but about our support for the Israeli people.”
He condemned the “heartbreaking and unacceptable” humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He called on the Trump administration and the Netanyahu government to surge the delivery of food and other assistance to “innocent Palestinians in Gaza.”
Wednesday’s votes marked the third time in the past year that Mr. Sanders has forced the Senate to vote on arming Israel for its war against Hamas. He will likely do it again if the humanitarian crisis continues.
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman James E. Risch, Idaho Republican, said he doesn’t know what is going through Democrats’ minds, but GOP support for Israel remains “rock solid.”
One vote to block the sale of tens of thousands of fully automatic assault rifles failed, 27-70. The other to prohibit a $676 million sale of thousands of 1,000-pound bombs and guidance kits was rejected by a slightly larger margin of 24-73.
When Mr. Sanders forced similar votes in early April and November, the high-water mark for Democratic support was 19.
The shift comes as mass starvation in Gaza has added to the death toll of the tens of thousands killed from fighting between Israel and Hamas.
The worsening situation convinced some Democrats who previously voted against Sanders’ efforts to join him Wednesday in sending a message to Netanyahu.
“Starving children and innocent civilians is wrong,” said Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat who previously opposed blocking arms to Israel but supported it this time.
The others that switched their vote for the first time were Ms. Klobuchar, Sens. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Patty Murray of Washington and Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, both of Rhode Island.
Mr. Reed, Mr. Whitehouse and Sen. Jon Ossoff, Georgia Democrat, voted only to block the sale of assault rifles, not bombs.
Mr. Ossoff said in a statement he opposed sending Israel assault rifles that “would likely have been allocated to police forces under the control of Itamar Ben-Gvir,” Israel’s far-right national security minister, who has resisted efforts to broker a ceasefire.
But Mr. Ossoff voted to continue sending bombs that he said have a larger impact on protecting the Israeli people, “who face the persistent threat of rocket and missile attack and have been subjected to intense aerial bombardment from Iran, Lebanon, and Yemen.”
He described his vote as a protest against the Netanyahu government’s policies. “There’s overwhelming public concern, sadness and outrage at the starvation of children,” he said.
Republicans slammed Mr. Ossoff, who is up for reelection in 2026, for refusing to stand with Georgia’s Jewish community.
“He’d rather please the pro-Hamas extremists in his party than stand with Israel and Jewish Georgians,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Nick Puglia. “In 2026, voters will send him packing.”
Some Democrats who have remained opposed to blocking arm sales to Israel are frustrated that Mr. Sanders continues to force the votes and create a wedge in the Democratic Caucus.
“It’s important that our caucus speak with a united voice in order to be effective,” said Sen. Chris Coons, Delaware Democrat, in a statement. “These resolutions do not bring us closer to their stated goals. Instead, they renege on our promise of support to our ally Israel and risk a fragile but expanding aid apparatus.”
• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.