Senate Democrats Divided on Israel's Military Actions
Nevada Democratic U.S. Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto joined a minority of Senate Democrats voting against efforts to block additional weapons sales to Israel last week. A majority of Senate Democrats supported resolutions sponsored by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders to halt a $675 million bomb sale to Israel and shipments of 20,000 assault rifles. The U.S. has provided nearly $20 billion in military aid to Israel since the 2023 Hamas attacks. The Israeli government has been criticized for its handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where hunger and malnutrition are widespread, and deaths due to starvation are increasing.
Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. has provided nearly $20 billion in military aid to Israel since the 2023 Hamas attacks, with the latest proposed sale being a $675 million bomb sale and shipments of 20,000 assault rifles.
- A majority of Senate Democrats supported resolutions to halt the sale, but Nevada Democratic U.S. Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, among others, voted against the efforts.
- Israel's actions in Gaza have been widely criticized, with human rights groups and several international organizations calling its actions genocide.
- Public support for Israeli military actions in Gaza has reached a new low, with only an estimated 32% of adults in the U.S. backing Israel's actions.
- The crisis in Gaza has led to mass starvation, with deaths due to starvation increasing, and 90% of Gaza's 2.1 million residents displaced.
- The Israeli government's humanitarian aid and evacuation efforts have been criticized for their inadequacy, with several countries and international organizations calling for a large-scale expansion of humanitarian assistance.
Statistics:
- $20 billion: The total amount of military aid provided to Israel by the U.S. since the 2023 Hamas attacks.
- 675 million: The value of the proposed bomb sale to Israel.
- 20,000: The number of assault rifles proposed to be shipped to Israel.
- 60,000: The estimated number of Gazans, including 18,500 children, killed since the start of the conflict.
- 90%: The number of Gaza's 2.1 million residents displaced due to Israeli evacuation orders.
- 32%: The estimated percentage of adults in the U.S. backing Israel's military actions in Gaza, down from a previous high of 59%.
Sources:
- https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00455.htm#position
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/biden-administration-notifies-congress-of-planned-8-billion-weapons-sale-to-israel
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/the-mathematics-of-starvation-how-israel-caused-a-famine-in-gaza
- https://apnews.com/article/bernie-sanders-israeli-weapons-sale-democrats-gaza-58945751c7f88c1434a4be86e11af167
- https://www.schiff.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Letter-to-Rubio-and-Witkoff-on-Middle-East-2025.07.29.pdf
- https://x.com/SenJackyRosen/status/1949563119862419814
- https://www.rosen.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05.09.24-Rubio-Rosen-letter-to-POTUS-re-ICC.pdf
- https://www.rosen.senate.gov/es/2024/11/21/rosen-statement-condemning-international-criminal-courts-outrageous-issuance-of-arrest-warrant-for-israeli-leaders-brazen-political-overreach/
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2025/israel-gaza-war-children-death-toll/?itid=co_israel-hamas_2
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/90-of-gaza-residents-have-been-displaced-by-israels-evacuation-orders-un-says
- https://zeteo.com/p/breaking-senate-rejects-sanders-arms-israel
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/18/israel-starvation-used-weapon-war-gaza
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/the-mathematics-of-starvation-how-israel-caused-a-famine-in-gaza
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/28/israel-committing-genocide-in-gaza-say-israel-based-human-rights-groups
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/692948/u.s.-back-israel-military-action-gaza-new-low.aspx