Senator Bernie Sanders’ resolution to stop a $20 billion arms sale to Israel, which included bombs and tank rounds, was overwhelmingly voted down by the U.S. Senate. Sanders said that the transfer could break U.S. law if the weapons were used against civilians in Gaza, where officials say more than 43,000 people have died, most of them women and children. The resolution failed by a wide margin, though, which shows that both parties support Israel’s military stance.
The vote shows a deep split in American conscience: some people are loyal to Israel’s security promises, while others are worried about the human cost in Gaza. Some people see the result as a sign of strength and consistency in the alliance, while others see it as a troubling refusal to keep an eye on the morality of U.S. weapons. Even though he lost, Sanders’ campaign made people question whether America’s military aid is in line with its stated values of human rights and international law.
The issue goes beyond politics and touches on deeper moral questions. The Qur’an says, “Don’t let your hatred of a group of people stop you from being fair.” “Be just; that is nearer to righteousness” (5:8). People may write arms contracts in terms of dollars and defense, but the real cost is in lives lost—fathers, mothers, and children whose dignity is sacred. Ibn ʿAta’illah said that sins on the outside hurt the body, but injustice hurts the heart. Supporting war without accountability may dull compassion until grief becomes just numbers.
By choosing continuity over restraint, America’s senators showed that they support the alliance but didn’t say who is morally responsible. History will determine whether that decision was motivated by loyalty or ignorance. For now, it is up to citizens and leaders to uphold the idea that life is sacred, even in war, and to make sure that power is used with kindness. Only then can decisions heal instead of hurt.