August 2, 2025
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus opposed two Senate resolutions aimed at blocking U.S. arms sales to Israel—breaking from many of his Democratic colleagues and fellow Black lawmakers.
The U.S. Senate voted down two measures introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on July 30, 2025, that sought to halt the sale of 20,000 automatic rifles and $675 million in bombs and munitions to the Israeli government.
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.
The resolutions failed with 70–27 and 73–24 vote margins, respectively.
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export of certain defense articles to Israel.
According to the official Senate vote record, Booker was among a minority of Democrats—just nine in each vote—who sided with nearly every Republican senator in voting “NAY.”
The votes were historic in one respect: a majority of Senate Democrats supported both resolutions for the first time, reflecting shifting sentiment amid rising humanitarian concerns in Gaza. Multiple CBC members, including Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA)joined in favor of the resolutions. Senator Booker’s departure from that bloc raised eyebrows, especially given his past alignment with progressive causes and human rights advocacy.
As reported by Politico, Senator Sanders framed the resolutions as moral responses to reports of widespread civilian suffering in Gaza. He called the weapons transfers “aiding destruction” in a region facing acute starvation and civilian displacement.
Andy Kim (D-NJ) yes vote aligned him with a narrow majority of the Democratic caucus – a notable shift in a party whose traditional allegiance to Israel has been tested by the last two years of war. In a statement last night, Kim said that, with critical food and supplies unable to enter Gaza, he views the sale of more weapons as an impediment to peace.
“I voted today to support the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval because the humanitarian catastrophe and widespread starvation underscores the necessity to end the military campaign in Gaza and allow for unfettered humanitarian access,” Kim said. “The weapons systems in the resolutions would only take us further from the change that is needed and prolong the suffering we witness.”
Booker, meanwhile, joined with the remainder of the Democratic caucus (including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer) and every Senate Republican in voting against the resolutions. He said that while he believes that the “suffering, starvation, and atrocities” in Gaza must be halted, he doesn’t believe Sanders’ resolutions are the best way to bring about an end to the war.
“It’s time for the conflict in Gaza to end – there must be an immediate ceasefire that stops the fighting, ends the suffering for innocent civilians caught in the crossfire, brings the hostages home, and dramatically increases humanitarian aid,” Booker said. “These Joint Resolutions of Disapproval would restrict our country’s ability to provide future security guarantees without achieving the goal of ending this war now or increasing vital humanitarian aid.”
The wasn’t the first time that the Senate has voted on efforts to block military aid to Israel, nor is it the first time that a divide between Booker and Kim has emerged. In April, Kim was one of just 15 senators to support two Sanders resolutions halting $8.8 billion in bombs and munitions sales; Booker voted against them.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Monday that the U.K. would join France in recognizing an independent Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to end the war. French President Emmanuel Macron will formalize its recognition at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Source: New Jersey Globe / Politico / Senate.gov / The Hill
