The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today urged Americans to thank senators who voted in favor of Senator Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JDRs) to block U.S. weapons transfers to Israel and to express disappointment to senators who failed to support the measures.
The Senate voted on two JDRs introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders seeking to block hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons transfers to Israel, including a $150 million sale of 1,000-pound bombs and a $300 million sale of bulldozers used in military operations across Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon. Although the resolutions failed by votes of 36-63 and 40-59, they marked a historic increase in Senate Democratic support compared to similar votes in July 2025.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“Senators who voted to block these weapons transfers chose principle over complicity. We applaud them for standing against the bombs and bulldozers being used to destroy civilian lives across Gaza and the region. At the same time, those who voted to keep these weapons flowing must be held accountable for enabling atrocities with U.S. taxpayer dollars. We urge every American to contact their senators today: thank those who stood on the side of justice, and tell those who chose war profiteering over human rights that their votes to arm genocide will not be forgotten.”
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Thank You Message:
Thank you for voting in favor of the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block additional U.S. weapons transfers to Israel, including the proposed sale of $150 million in 1,000-pound bombs and $300 million in bulldozers used in military operations across Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon. At a time when civilians across the region are facing catastrophic violence, your vote demonstrated moral leadership and a commitment to upholding human rights, international law, and congressional oversight. By supporting these resolutions, you took a stand against the use of American taxpayer-funded weapons in attacks that have devastated civilian communities and contributed to immense human suffering. Your vote sends a powerful message that the United States must not continue enabling military actions that fuel war crimes and regional instability.
Disappointment Message:
I am deeply disappointed that you voted against the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval seeking to block additional U.S. weapons transfers to Israel, including shipments of 1,000-pound bombs and bulldozers that have been used in military operations causing widespread destruction in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon. At a time when thousands of civilians have been killed, injured, or displaced, your vote allows the continued transfer of weapons that contribute to immense human suffering and undermine international law. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that U.S. arms are not used to facilitate war crimes or collective punishment. By rejecting these resolutions, you failed to uphold that responsibility and ignored growing public demand for accountability, restraint, and an end to policies that prolong violence and civilian devastation.