Fifteen Senate Democrats backed a pair of resolutions from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to withhold billions of dollars in offensive weapons sales and other military aid to Israel.
Why it matters: The votes split the party, revealing continued internal divisions over Democrats’ views on the war in Gaza and support for the Israeli government. The measures failed 15-82 and 15-83.
- Sanders wants to cancel the Trump administration’s proposed sales of $8.8 billion in bombs and other munitions to Israel.
- In addition to Sanders, Democratic Sens. Richard Durbin (Ill.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (N.M.), Tim Kaine (Va.), and Andy Kim (N.J.) voted in favor.
- So did Ed Markey (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Chris Murphy (Conn.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Tina Smith (Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Peter Welch (Vt.).
- No Republicans supported the measures.
https://www.axios.com/2025/04/03/senate-democrats-cancel-military-aid-israel