Diverse, Anti-War Coalition Launches Grassroots Campaign Ahead of First-Ever Senate Vote on Arms Sales to Israel
Washington, DC — On Monday, Demand Progress and a coalition of 56 other progressive, faith-based, humanitarian, and foreign policy advocacy groups launched the No More Weapons for Israel’s War campaign. This month, for the first time ever, the U.S. Senate will hold yes-or-no votes on arms sales to Israel. The grassroots campaign will drive their millions of supporters to call on senators to support Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) that could block transfers of certain offensive weapons like tank and artillery shells and Joint Direct Attack Munitions to the Israeli military.
- View the No More Weapons for Israel’s War website
- RSVP for a virtual briefing on Tuesday about the vote
U.S. law and the Biden administration’s arms transfer policy prohibit arms transfers to countries responsible for gross violations of human rights and that restrict U.S. humanitarian aid. With the support of more than $20 billion in U.S. funding, the Israeli military’s “indiscriminate bombing” has killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians and displaced more than a million others. Additionally, humanitarian groups report that Israel continues to block food and medicine from reaching Gazans, leading to mass starvation and disease outbreaks.
The JRDs, which only block offensive weapons and not defensive weapons like the Iron Dome system, were introduced by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Brian Schatz (D-HI). The No More Weapons for Israel’s War campaign was organized by Demand Progress and includes partners such as Action Corps, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Oxfam America Action Fund, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Common Defense, Quincy Institute, and a diverse coalition of 50 other groups.
Cavan Kharrazian, Senior Policy Advisor, Demand Progress:
“For the last 13 months, the Biden administration has refused to use the leverage at its disposal to end to the war in Gaza and alleviate an ever-increasing humanitarian catastrophe. Despite clear evidence showing that Israel is committing war crimes and blocking humanitarian aid, the U.S. is still unconscionably selling billions of dollars of offensive weapons to Israel. Next week, senators have a historic opportunity to send a strong message to Israel by voting in favor of Sen. Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, which becomes even more urgent now that Trump, a notorious ally of Netanyahu, prepares to reenter the White House.”
Isaac Evans-Frantz, Executive Director, Action Corps:
“Action Corps activists and allies are proud to have secured Sen. Bernie Sanders’ introduction of the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval against the illegal U.S. sale of $20 billion in weapons to the Israeli government, and they are watching closely to see whether their senators across the country will stand up for humanity and side with the majority of Americans who want an end to this catastrophic and ever-widening war.”
Janet Abou-Elias, Co-founder, Women for Weapons Trade Transparency:
“This historic Joint Resolution of Disapproval vote offers an unprecedented opportunity to block the sale of U.S. weapons—such as Joint Direct Attack Munitions, tank rounds, and mortar shells—implicated in human rights violations in Gaza, Lebanon, and the wider region. These arms have contributed to devastating civilian harm, making this a pivotal moment for Senators to take a principled stand against U.S. military support that enables violations of international law. Now is the time for decisive action to prevent this cycle of violence.”
Hassan El-Tayyab, Legislative Director for Middle East Policy, Friends Committee on National Legislation:
“The war in Gaza is not just a humanitarian catastrophe but a mass atrocity carried out with U.S. bombs and military support, funded by American taxpayers. It’s long overdue for Congress to hold a public debate and vote on ending U.S. complicity in the mass killing and starvation of Palestinian civilians. These Joint Resolutions of Disapproval mark a historic moment—the first major effort in Congress to block offensive arms sales to Israel in United States history. Senators must vote yes and press the Biden Administration to use all forms of U.S. leverage to finally end the war in Gaza, bring hostages home, and de-escalate tensions across the Middle East.”
Tori Bateman, Advocacy Director, Quincy Institute:
“It’s time for the Israeli government to take U.S. demands about de-escalation, civilian protection, and humanitarian aid seriously. If the United States wants to see the Israeli government change its behavior, then it must change too by being willing to leverage arms sales to achieve a ceasefire, protect civilians, and serve the U.S. national interest. Senators should vote “yes” to block these transfers of offensive weapons to Israel.”
Valentina Dallona, Political Director, Justice is Global:
“The current situation presents a stark reality to the American people: Our tax dollars are being diverted from urgent community needs to fund genocidal operations in Gaza, while our elected officials continue to disregard overwhelming public opposition to this policy. At a time when the state of democracy is in peril, listening to public demands to end arms transfers to Israel represents a crucial test of our democratic process. We urge Congress to listen to the American people and support Sen. Sanders’ resolution.”
John Ramming Chappell, Advisor on Legal and Policy Issues, CIVIC:
“Palestinian civilians in Gaza have suffered more than a year of unimaginable devastation. Virtually unconditional US arms transfers to the Israeli government have made that possible. By voting for Senators Sanders, Merkley, and Welch’s joint resolutions of disapproval on some of the weapons most implicated in killings of civilians, the Senate can send a clear message that the status quo is unacceptable — regardless of who is in the White House.”
Beth Miller, Political Director, Jewish Voice for Peace Action:
“The U.S. cannot claim to be working towards a ceasefire while simultaneously sending the weapons that enable the Israeli government’s genocide of Palestinians. The only way to stop these atrocities and to save lives is for the U.S. to stop arming Israel now. As American Jews, we are proud to join with our partners across the country to call on every one of our Senators to halt the flow of bombs to Israel and to block this $20 billion weapons sale.”
Yasmine Taeb, Legislative and Political Director, MPower Change Action Fund:
“We are grateful Sen. Sanders has introduced the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval and the historic vote to take place in November to block the sale of offensive arms to Israel. Sending any offensive arms to Israel is a violation of U.S. and international humanitarian law. We urge Senators to cosponsor and vote YES on the JRDs.”
Tori Bateman, Advocacy Director, Quincy Institute:
“It’s time for the Israeli government to take U.S. demands about de-escalation, civilian protection, and humanitarian aid seriously. If the United States wants to see the Israeli government change its behavior, then it must change too by being willing to leverage arms sales to achieve a ceasefire, protect civilians, and serve the U.S. national interest. Senators should vote “yes” to block these transfers of offensive weapons to Israel.”
Mitchell Plitnick, President, ReThinking Foreign Policy:
“American weapons in Israeli hands have done a massive amount of damage to Palestinian civilians and this has grown exponentially since October 7. It is long past time that we stop sending weapons to a state which is guilty of some of the worst human rights abuses in recent memory.”
David Swanson, Executive Director, World BEYOND War:
“With the all-consuming election that largely pretended no genocide was underway finally behind us, let’s mark the holiday formerly known as Armistice Day by asking the U.S. government to take the radical step of complying with its own laws and halting weapons shipments to Israel!”
Eva Borgwardt, National Spokesperson, IfNotNow:
“As Trump, Netanyahu’s top enabler, returns to power, it’s more important than ever for Congress to vote to stop sending bombs to the Israeli military—a policy which 62 percent of American Jews support. We have a shrinking window to secure a ceasefire, end Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza, and return the hostages. The only way to do that is through an arms embargo.”
Jehan Hakim, Founder, Yemeni Alliance Committee:
“Israel needs military support from the U.S. to continue its aggression on innocent civilians-without us, it cannot continue. We must push for an immediate ceasefire and stop arming Israel now!”
Raed Jarrar, Director of Advocacy, DAWN:
“A congressional resolution to stop the sale of $20 billion in offensive U.S. weapons to Israel is the least Congress can do amidst a genocide funded by U.S. tax dollars. Cutting the flow of U.S. arms to Israel is an obligation under U.S. and international law, which prohibit aiding and abetting rogue regimes committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
The full coalition includes: Demand Progress, Action Corps, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Oxfam America Action Fund, Common Defense, 18 Million Rising, American Friends Service Committee, Friends Committee on National Legislation, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Arab American Institute, Arab Resource & Organizing Center Action (AROC Action), Benedictines for Peace, Brooklyn for Peace, Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Charity & Security Network, Civic Shout, Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT), DAWN, Defending Rights & Dissent, Democracy for America Advocacy Fund, Doctors Against Genocide, Extend, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, Historians for Peace and Democracy, HollywoodDemocrats.com, IfNotNow Movement, Israel/Palestine Mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Justice is Global, MADRE, MPower Change Action Fund, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Middle East Democracy Center, Minnesota Peace Project, Muslim Advocates, Muslims for Just Futures, National Council of Churches, Nonviolence International, Our Revolution,, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action, People’s Action, Presbyterian Church (USA), Office of Public Witness, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, ReThinking Foreign Policy, RootsAction.org, Rootstrikers, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society, United Musicians and Allied Workers, Women for Weapons Trade Transparency, Women’s March, World BEYOND War, Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation, Yemeni Alliance Committee.