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On Wednesday night, the Senate rejected a pair of resolutions that would have blocked the sale of bombs and bulldozers to Israel.

Although the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, which were introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) failed to pass, a record number of Senators backed the effort. 40 Senators backed a resolution would have blocked the sale of $295 million in D9R and D9T Caterpillar bulldozers to Israel and 36 members voted for a resolution that would have stopped a $151.8 million sale of 1,000-pound bombs to Israel.

“The fact that 40 of 47 Democratic Senators voted to withhold military hardware from Israel is a new high water mark in holding Israel accountable for violating US and international law,” tweeted Center for International Policy Vice President for Government Affairs Dylan Williams.

Sanders has attempted to pass similar resolutions on three other occasions. Last April, just 15 Senators voted for them, while 27 Senators supported them in July.

In a statement released after the vote, Sanders pointed out that 80% of the Democratic caucus backed the mesaures.

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“When we started this effort there were just 11 votes,” said Sanders. “Now, there are 40.”

“That shift reflects where the American people are,” he added. “Americans, whether they are Democrats, Republicans or independents, want to see our tax money invested in improving lives here at home — not used to kill innocent women and children in the Middle East and put American troops in harm’s way as part of Netanyahu’s illegal wars of expansion.”

The Sanders resolutions come amid a growing debate over military aid within the Democratic Party, which is just one component of a wider, ongoing battle over Israel.

BREAKING: A record-high 40 senators just voted to block weapons to Israel, up from 27 last July. There is much more work to be done, but today was yet another statement that the movement for Palestinian rights is growing in the halls of power. pic.twitter.com/RAKUo0UL59— IMEU Policy Project (@imeupolicy) April 15, 2026

BREAKING: A record-high 40 senators just voted to block weapons to Israel, up from 27 last........

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