Senator Bernie Sanders vows to force vote on blocking US arms sale to Israel

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Sen. Bernie Sanders said Monday that he will force a Senate vote to block a major US arms sale to Israel, intensifying his criticism of American military support for the Netanyahu government, accusing it of genocide.

"This week, I will be forcing a vote on legislation to block the sale of nearly half a billion dollars worth of bombs and bulldozers to the Israeli military," Sanders said on US social media company X.

"The extremist Netanyahu government that has committed genocide in Gaza does not need more military support from American taxpayers,” said Sanders, an indepdent who caucuses with Democratic senators.

The move follows a series of similar efforts by Sanders to challenge US weapons sales to Israel using joint resolutions of disapproval, a legislative mechanism that can force Senate votes on arms deals.

In January, Sanders filed a joint resolution of disapproval to block nearly $660 million in bomb sales to Israel.

Several American lawmakers are demanding that the US stop supplying weapons to Israel and also halt US complicity in Israel's actions.