The Senate unanimously supports Israel and its right to defend itself against Hamas: 97-0
Despite initially refusing, Rand Paul (R-KY) agreed to vote in favor of the resolution after language was included which emphasizes that this doesn't mean that the Senate endorses the use of military force in the Middle East.
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The Senate ruled in favor of Israel. In a vote that took place on Thursday afternoon, every senator present supported a resolution to establish firm support for the Jewish State in its war against Hamas, the terrorist group that began attacking the country on Saturday, October 7.
The text was sponsored by leaders Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), as well as Ben Cardin (D-MY) and Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and highest ranking member of the Foreign Relations panel, respectively.
As Schumer indicated before the vote, the resolution shows that the Senate speaks "in one voice that Israel is our friend, that Hamas’ attack is reprehensible, and we will stand with our friends to defend themselves."
"October 7th, 2023 will go down as a day of infamy. As Israel faces the darkest hour of its 75-year history, this bipartisan resolution we are about to vote on proclaims that so long as there is a United States of America, the people of Israel will never stand alone," he added.
According to what Senate staff familiar with internal discussions told The Hill, Rand Paul (R-KY), who is defined by his colleagues as being an isolationist when it comes to foreign policy, agreed to vote in favor after getting "language added to the resolution to make clear that it should not in any way be viewed as an authorization for the use of military force in Israel or Gaza."
The vote ended with 97 senators in favor and none against. The three missing were Tim Scott (R-SC), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Laphonza Butler (D-CA), who were not present to cast their votes. Butler was recently appointed to the Senate after the death of Dianne Feinstein, the historic Democrat who served until September 23, when her team announced her death.
Joe Biden is expected to soon send Congress a $10 billion military and humanitarian aid package to Israel. This is part of a broader $100 billion national security emergency and foreign aid project.
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