The US Senate on Wednesday rejected a bill that would have blocked the sale of some US weapons to Israel, out of concern over the humanitarian catastrophe and human rights violations of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

79 of the 100 senators opposed the text that would block sales of tank shells to Israel, 18 voted in favor and one member of the body was present. A second measure, which would have blocked sales of anti-tank missiles, was defeated by 78 votes (19 in favor, 1 abstention).

A vote was due late Wednesday night (local time; this morning Greek time) on a third draft law to block the sale of GPS guidance systems for aviation bombs.

All votes in favor of the bills came from the Democratic caucus. Most of their colleagues and all Republicans, without exception, opposed it.

The bills were drafted and filed by Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent in the Democratic caucus. Few Democrats declared themselves co-sponsors.

Strong bipartisan support for Israel in Congress left little doubt that the bills would be rejected, as they were, but supporters of the initiative believe the process in the Senate — despite President Joe Biden and his administration’s open opposition to the idea moving forward such measures—will intensify pressure on Washington to do more to protect civilians in the besieged and devastated Palestinian enclave, where Israel’s war with Hamas since October 7, 2023 has claimed the lives of at least 43,922 Palestinians and caused a humanitarian disaster, while forcibly displacing the vast majority of the 2.3 million resident.

Mr. Sanders ruled that US military aid to Israel violates US law, which prohibits the sale of weapons or the delivery of military aid to states that violate human rights, pointing out in particular that Israeli authorities are preventing the distribution of humanitarian aid to civilians.

“It is time to tell (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s government that it cannot use American taxpayer money and American weapons to violate American and international law and our moral values,” said Mr. Sanders in his speech in the semi-circle before the vote.

Opponents of the initiative countered that it was inappropriate because Israel faces threats from movements such as Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran, a state that is its sworn enemy. “Israel is surrounded by enemies committed to its destruction,” outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer argued in his own speech.

Israel’s embassy in Washington did not respond when asked by Reuters for comment on Senator Sanders’ position.

In theory, US law gives Congress the right to stop sales of large arms packages by passing related bills (known in US parliamentary parlance as “resolutions of disapproval”). Although no such text has ever passed both houses of Congress and survived a presidential veto, the law provides for a mandatory vote if such a bill is filed. Similar initiatives in the past have provoked fierce protests, putting American presidents in a difficult position.