The US Senate rejected a draft resolution forcing the State Department to prepare a report within 30 days to verify whether Israel committed human rights violations in its war on the Gaza Strip.

54 out of 100 members of the US Senate voted to reject the draft resolution, which means that it cannot proceed with its approval. The vote was based on a move by Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent allied with members of the Democratic Party.

Although the draft resolution was rejected, it reflects the growing concern among some of President Joe Biden's Democratic colleagues, especially the left wing, about the supply of American weapons to Israel despite the heavy losses among Palestinian civilians.

Sanders said in a speech before the vote in which he urged support for the resolution: “We must ensure that American aid is used in accordance with human rights and our laws,” and expressed his regret at what he described as the US Senate’s failure to consider any measure to scrutinize the impact of the war on civilians.

The draft resolution, prepared by Sanders, was introduced under the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows Congress to direct the State Department to issue a report on human rights and other information about any country receiving US security assistance.

Had the resolution passed, it would have required the State Department to submit a report to Congress within 30 days. After receiving the report, Congress could consider another resolution proposing changes in security assistance to Israel.

The White House said it opposed the resolution, which could have paved the way for conditions on security aid to Israel.

The United States gives Israel $3.8 billion in such aid each year, ranging from combat aircraft to powerful bombs that can destroy Hamas tunnels, and Biden asked Congress to approve an additional $14 billion.

Early this month, Sanders called on Congress to freeze the financial aid allocated by the White House to the Israeli occupation, considering that the American taxpayer should not remain involved in the occupation’s aggression against Gaza, which left tens of thousands martyred and wounded.

(Reuters, Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed)