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The United States Senate on Wednesday rejected three bills introduced by independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont seeking to block US arms sales to Israel valued at approximately $20 billion.

The legislative initiatives, promoted by Sanders amid growing international criticism of Israel's military offensive in Gaza, proposed placing conditions on or halting the transfer of defense systems, munitions, and war technology. According to the senator, allowing these transactions without restrictions would amount to granting unconditional support to Israel's military operations, which have been questioned by humanitarian organizations and sectors of Congress due to the high number of Palestinian civilian casualties.

The Senate majority, however, rejected the proposals, arguing that Israel remains a key strategic ally in the Middle East and that restricting arms supplies could weaken its defense capacity against regional threats, particularly from Iran and groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Lawmakers from both parties agreed that military cooperation with Israel is a pillar of US foreign policy in the region.

Sanders, for his part, harshly criticized the vote and warned that approving this multi-billion-dollar sale will send "the wrong message" to the world by prioritizing military interests over human rights. In subsequent statements, he stressed that "no country, not even a close ally, should receive blank checks for military operations that cause massive suffering among civilians."

The vote result reflects the complex divide in Congress regarding the relationship with Israel: while a bipartisan majority strongly supports the alliance, progressive sectors of the Democratic Party insist on the need to impose limits and conditions on military support, in line with international human rights standards.

Although Sanders's measures failed, the debate highlighted that US policy toward Israel faces growing political, diplomatic, and social challenges.