The US Senate rejected a draft resolution that could force the State Department to prepare an urgent report to verify whether Israel has committed violations of human rights and international agreements in its war on Gaza.
72 members of the Council opposed the draft resolution. While support was limited to 11 members. Opponents of the resolution called for its text to be withdrawn from circulation.
The vote was based on a move by Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent allied with members of the Democratic Party.
Despite the rejection of the draft resolution, it reflects the growing state of concern among some of President Joe Biden’s Democratic supporters, especially the left wing, about sending American weapons to Israel, in light of the continuing aggression on Gaza that led to the death and injury of tens of thousands of civilians, most of whom are women and children.
“We must ensure that American aid is used in accordance with human rights and our laws,” Sanders said in a speech he delivered before the vote, in which he urged support for the resolution. He expressed his regret at what he described as the Senate’s failure to consider any measure that would scrutinize the impact of the war on civilians.
The White House opposes
Commenting on this move, the White House said it opposes the resolution, which could have paved the way toward imposing conditions on military aid to Israel.
The United States gives its ally Israel $3.8 billion in such aid every year, ranging from combat aircraft to strategic bombs. Biden asked Congress to approve an additional $14 billion.
The draft resolution was put forward 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 military assistance.
If approved, the resolution 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 military aid to Israel.
Last Thursday, the International Court of Justice, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, began examining a request from South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
