US Senators introduce bill to block $20bn US arms sales to Israel

Senator Bernie Sanders, alongside Democratic senators Peter Welch and Jeff Merkley, has formally introduced legislation to halt over $20 billion in US arms sales to Israel.

Sanders accused Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's government of waging "all-out war against the Palestinian people," resulting in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths and 95,000 injuries, including a high proportion of women, children, and elderly people.

Sanders argued that Israel's use of US weapons in Gaza violates the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act, citing extensive evidence of illegal use. He called the continued supply of arms both "immoral" and "illegal."