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The US Senate on Wednesday blocked proposals for legislation that would have banned the sale of some US weapons to Israel.
The bills were introduced out of concern about the human rights catastrophe facing Palestinians in Gaza.
Seventy-nine of the 100 US senators opposed a resolution that would have blocked the sale of tank shells to Israel, while 18 approved it and one voted absentee. Seventy-eight opposed a second measure, which would have banned the delivery of the shells, while 19 supported it and one abstained.
The Senate was to vote later Wednesday on a third resolution that would ban shipments of a GPS guidance system for the bombs.
All votes in favor of the proposals came from the democratic group. Those opposed came from both Democrats and Republicans. The "resolutions of disapproval" were filed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent senator who caucuses with Democrats, and were co-sponsored by a handful of Democrats.
Strong bipartisan support for Israel in Congress meant the resolutions were unlikely to ever pass, but supporters hoped significant support in the Senate would encourage the Israeli government and President Joe Biden's administration to do more to protect civilians in Gaza.
President Biden's administration opposed the resolutions.
Most of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have been displaced and the enclave is at risk of starvation, more than a year after Israel's war against Hamas in the Palestinian territory. Gaza health officials say about 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive.
Senator Sanders said military aid to Israel violates a US law banning the sale of arms to human rights abusers, accusing Israel of blocking aid shipments.
"It is time to tell the Netanyahu government that they cannot use American taxpayer dollars and American weapons in violation of American and international law and our moral values," Senator Sanders said in a speech on the Senate floor before the vote.
Opponents said the resolutions were inappropriate as Israel faces threats from certain terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and arch-enemy Iran.
"Israel is surrounded by enemies committed to its destruction," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a speech on the Senate floor before the vote.
Israel says it has been working to address humanitarian needs and the main problem with sending aid was the UN's problems with distribution. Her embassy in Washington did not respond this week to a request for comment on Sen. Sanders' resolutions.
US law gives Congress the right to stop major arms sales abroad by passing resolutions of disapproval. Although no such resolution has passed Congress or survived a presidential veto, the law requires the Senate to vote if a resolution is introduced. Such resolutions have sometimes created tough and difficult debates for presidents in the past./VOA
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