A record number of Senate Democrats, more than half the caucus, voted in favor of two resolutions to block US military sales to Israel on Wednesday night, reports The Hill.

While the resolutions ultimately failed, the vote demonstrated how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fractured historically bipartisan support in Congress over the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip in Israel’s war against Hamas.

The resolutions, sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), failed in the face of all Republicans voting against the measure and 20 Democrats.

Senators voted 27 in favor and 70 to defeat Sanders’ resolution (S.J.Res.34), which sought to block more than $675 million in weapons sales to Israel. 

A second resolution (S.J.Res. 41) garnered 24 in favor, and 73 against. The resolution sought to prohibit the sale of tens of thousands of fully automatic assault rifles.

“Whatever happens tonight, history will condemn those of us who failed to act in the face of these horrors,” Sanders said ahead of the vote.

It was the third time Sanders put senators on record over their military support for Israel. An April vote garnered 15 Democratic Senators. A vote in November 2024 garnered 18 Democratic senators. 

Democrats framed their opposition to military aid to Israel as a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and not as opposition to Israel as a whole. 

Voting yes for the first time included Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“This legislative tool is not perfect, but frankly, it is time to say enough to the suffering of innocent young children and families,” she said in a statement explaining her vote.

“As a longtime friend and supporter of Israel, I am voting yes to send a message: the Netanyahu government cannot continue with this strategy. Netanyahu has prolonged this war at every turn to stay in power.”

The criticism against Netanyahu matches recent polling on Americans’ attitudes toward the Israeli leader. A Gallup poll taken in early July recorded that a majority of Americans disapprove of Netanyahu, at 52 percent, his highest unfavorable rating since 1997.

The poll diverged along party lines. Two-thirds of Republicans, 67 percent, have a favorable view of Netanyahu, compared to 19 percent of independents and nine percent of Democrats.

Active fighting in the Gaza Strip resumed on March 18, when the Israeli army launched massive strikes on this Palestinian enclave, ending a ceasefire in place since January. And on May 18, Israel announced that it had entered the decisive phase of its Operation Gideon's Chariots, which aims to destroy Hamas' infrastructure.