From the website of Senator Bernie Sanders:

WASHINGTON, April 3 – After filing Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) to block the sale of two of the most egregious Trump Administration offensive arms sales to Israel, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today rose to bring the JRDs up for a vote by the full Senate.

The sales would provide almost $8.8 billion more in heavy bombs and other munitions to Netanyahu, including more than 35,000 massive 2,000-pound bombs.

• The first resolution, S.J.Res 33, would block a sale of $2.04 billion for 35,329 MK 84 2,000 lb. bombs and 4,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads.
• The second resolution, S.J.Res.26, would block $6.75 billion for 2,800 500-pound bombs, 2,166 Small Diameter Bombs, and tens of thousands of JDAM guidance kits.

All of these systems have been linked to dozens of illegal airstrikes, including on designated humanitarian sites, resulting in thousands of civilian casualties. None of these systems are necessary to protect Israel from incoming drone or rocket attacks.

The JRD is the only formal mechanism available to Congress to prevent an arms sale noticed by the administration from advancing.

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A vote was taken in the Senate on these resolutions on that day, April 3, 2025, and only 15 senators voted in favor of stopping $8.8 billion in arms sales to Israel. Although Bird & Beckett, a sole proprietorship of Eric Whittington, has more than a few times stated its fervent admiration of Senator Cory Booker’s campaign to destroy any illusions that Donald J. Trump’s presidency is anything but a disaster for the vast majority of Americans from any reasonable perspective and a great threat to the world at large, Senator Booker’s vote against the resolutions is beyond comprehension. We are appalled that Senator Booker has been willing to support America’s arming of Israel during its horrific campaign against Palestine.

Unlike Senator Booker, his fellow senator from New Jersey, Andy Kim, voted in favor of the resolutions, and had this to say, as quoted in The New Jersey Globe, April 3, 2025:

“It has been over 540 days since Hamas brutally attacked Israel; an attack that we must work to ensure can never be replicated. To that end, the priority must be the safe return of hostages, including Edan Alexander, through a diplomatic agreement that also leads to a durable peace to end the suffering that doesn’t leave Hamas in charge of Gaza.

“Today, the Senate voted on two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, which would stop a portion of potential arms sales of [offensive] weapons from the United States to Israel. I will continue to stand with Israel and the Israeli people. I voted for these Joint Resolutions because while I support providing tools critical for Israel’s defense, I do not believe that these systems, which include those that can level entire city blocks and that have been used in incidents with disproportionate civilian casualties, achieve the primary objectives I’ve outlined. In fact, their use will make it harder.

“I have long supported systems like Iron Dome and David’s Sling that protect scores of Israelis from terrorist groups and other common adversaries like Iran and Iranian proxies. The threat in particular from Iran is real and existential, and systems to stop drone and ballistic missile attacks are vital. Israel needs these tools and others that ensure it retains its Qualitative Military Edge because it is surrounded by actors who seek its demise, and that the history of the State of Israel is one founded on the assurance of continued existence.

“I also recognize that beyond supplying essential weapons systems to Israel, the most important thing we can do is work to avoid making the mistakes of the past and focus on objectives that break the cycle of violence once and for all. When I was in Israel a few weeks ago, I urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to do everything possible to keep the diplomatic talks going and get the hostages out.

“His decision to resume military strikes and operations is not the path to take. There has been too much tragic loss of civilian life, including family members of New Jerseyans who grieve constantly and continue to be filled with deep worry about those still in Gaza. And as I said before that hostages should never be used as leverage for negotiations, neither should humanitarian aid to civilians. Netanyahu’s decision to block all international aid from entering Gaza is wrong. Hamas’ brutality to the Israeli people and their negligence to the Palestinian people does not give reason for others to act without regard to the humanity of civilians. It is critical that aid be allowed to flow into Gaza again immediately, and I’m concerned that the Trump Administration is taking no steps toward that end. In fact, President Trump has made matters worse by proposing a reckless plan of America “owning” Gaza and building seaside resorts, fanning the flames of the most extreme elements in Israel toward a path that would lead to an even more dangerous environment for the Israeli and Palestinian people. President Trump has also abandoned frameworks to put safeguards around how weapons like these can be used, and has attempted to bypass Congress in order to provide these systems.

“This conflict, the future of the Israeli and Palestinian people, and the region as a whole is at a critical moment. Around seventy percent of the Israeli people want a return to a ceasefire and the return of all hostages, and America should stand with them. But the Israeli government is going the opposite direction with no viable exit strategy or plan for post-war Gaza other than support [for] Trump’s reckless plan. And getting bogged down with prolonged conflict in Gaza will pull resources away from securing Israel from its greatest threat – Iran – at this critical moment. There is a generational opportunity to isolate Iran from Lebanon, Syria, and the greater region, and Israel must prioritize this chance to normalize relations and build a coalition against Iran, which will be even more difficult if the violence in Gaza continues.

“We should work closely with our diplomatic partners to press Hamas to return to a ceasefire, with our Israeli partners to expand normalization, and with regional partners on a political solution that replaces Hamas as the governing entity of Gaza. We should build out larger frameworks to further isolate Iran and minimize its risk to the region.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in the United States Senate and engaging diplomatically with our Israeli and Arab partners to bring the hostages home, to end the conflict, and build a durable peace that the children of the region can truly enjoy so that the horrors of October 7th never happen again.”

From The Guardian, April 29, 2025:

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), said on Tuesday that Israel had released a medic held since a deadly and hugely controversial attack by Israeli troops on ambulances in southern Gaza on 23 March.

Eight PRCS staff members, six from the Gaza civil defence agency and one Unrwa employee were killed in the attack, according to the UN humanitarian office OCHA.

The killings sparked international condemnation, including concern from the UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, about possible war crimes.

A screenshot from a video published by the PRCS shows the last moments before Israeli troops opened fire on its ambulances in the southern Gaza Strip. Photograph: Palestinian Red Crescent/Reuters

Palestinian health officials in the territory say 2,151 people, including 732 children, have been killed since Israel broke a fragile ceasefire on 18 March that had been in place since mid-January.

Israel imposed a tight blockade on Gaza almost two months ago, stopping all food, fuel, medicines and other items from entering. It says the measure is intended to force Hamas into releasing hostages and accuses it of systematically stealing humanitarian assistance.

Rights groups accuse Israel of using a “starvation tactic” that endangers the whole population, potentially making it a war crime.

Humanitarian workers say supplies are running desperately low, with most people eating one meal or less a day. Major agencies such as the World Food Programme and Unrwa have distributed their last stocks of flour and other basic foodstuffs, and medics say malnutrition levels are rising.

Palestinians clamour to receive food in Khan Younis. Photograph: Hatem Khaled/Reuters

Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements and other deals.