US senator tries to force debate on 'humanitarian cataclysm' in Gaza

Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, sought to force debate under a provision in U.S. foreign assistance law prohibiting security assistance to any government that "engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights" and lets Congress vote to demand a report on a country's human rights practices.

If a resolution requesting the information passes, the Department of State must submit a report within 30 days, or all security assistance to the country in question is cut off.

However, it was not clear how much support any such resolution might receive, as U.S. lawmakers - both Democrats and Republicans - have for years approved huge amounts of military assistance for Israel with very few restrictions.

Sanders' resolution acknowledged Israel's right to respond to the Oct. 7 attack on Israelis by Islamist Hamas militants. However, he deplored the extent of the suffering in Gaza.

"This is a humanitarian cataclysm, and it is being done with American bombs and money. We need to face up to that fact – and then we need to end our complicity in those actions," Sanders said in a statement.