The US Senate overwhelmingly rejected two resolutions introduced by progressive Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Thursday aimed at preventing US arms transfers to Israel, with support among Democrats declining since the last time such an initiative was introduced several months ago.

Sanders's proposals were almost certain to fail, given the Republican majority in the Senate and the small minority of Democrats still willing to vote against Israel. However, such votes are often portrayed as a crucial test of the extent to which the Democratic Party has shifted in its support for Israel, especially the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

The replacement of former President Joe Biden with current President Donald Trump in the White House did not appear to have significantly impacted Thursday's vote.

Fifteen Democrats voted in favor of two resolutions banning the sale of $8.8 billion in bombs and ammunition to Israel. When Sanders introduced similar resolutions before the Senate in November 2024, 19 Democrats voted in favor of one of them.

Among the four senators who voted in favor of Sanders' resolutions last November and who reversed their votes on Thursday was Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, who is likely to face a stiff Republican challenge for re-election in 2026.

The others were his fellow Georgia senator, Raphael Warnock, New Hampshire senator Jeanne Shaheen — who announced earlier this month that she would not seek re-election next year — and Maine senator Angus King, an independent who is joining the Democrats in their caucus.

A prominent voice in support of Sanders's resolutions is New Jersey Senator Andy Kim, who is seen as a more moderate Democrat. He visited Israel earlier this year and called for the release of the hostages. The other fourteen Democrats who voted in favor of the arms embargo on Israel are: Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Ben Ray Lujan (New Mexico), Bernie Sanders (Vermont), Chris Van Hollen (Maryland), Jeff Merkley (Oregon), Ed Markey (Massachusetts), Tim Kaine (Virginia), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Martin Heinrich (New Mexico), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Tina Smith (Minnesota), Dick Durbin (Illinois), Peter Welch (Vermont), and Chris Murphy (Connecticut).

The first resolution was defeated by a vote of 82 to 15, while the second was defeated by a vote of 83 to 15. Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin (of Wisconsin) voted in favor, as she did on all three Sanders resolutions last November.

In his remarks urging support for the resolutions, Sanders described the toll taken by civilians, saying that thousands of children face malnutrition and hunger, particularly as a result of the recent blockade of humanitarian aid.

"What's happening now is unbelievable," Sanders said. "Today, it's been 31 days and counting, and no humanitarian aid has reached Gaza. Nothing at all. No food, no water, no medicine, no fuel, for over a month."

This suspension, which Israel says is aimed at pressuring Hamas in its ongoing hostage talks, applies to imports of food, medicine, and fuel.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch of Idaho urged defeating Sanders' resolutions, saying, "They would abandon Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, at a pivotal moment for global security."

It's worth noting that Trump began his second term by reversing his predecessor, Joe Biden,'s efforts to place some restrictions on arms shipments to Israel. Last February, Trump bypassed the congressional review process to approve billions of dollars in military sales to Israel.

US law gives Congress the right to block major foreign arms sales by issuing resolutions of disapproval. Although no such resolution has ever passed Congress and survived a presidential veto, the law requires the Senate to vote if such a resolution is introduced. Such resolutions have sometimes led to angry debates that have embarrassed previous presidents.

Israel launched its brutal war on the besieged Gaza Strip after a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, killed 1,200 Israelis, including 311 soldiers on active duty, and captured 251 others, according to official Israeli reports.

More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's war of extermination on Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry says more than 1,000 people have been killed since Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18, shattering a fragile two-month truce. The truce was supposed to move into its second phase on March 2, which would have included a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire, but Israel sought to rewrite its terms for extending the first phase. Hamas insisted on adhering to the original terms of the agreement.