The Senate voted unanimously Thursday afternoon, 97-0, in favor of a resolution stating the Senate stands firmly with Israel and firmly against Hamas.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who withheld his support for the resolution earlier in the week, was able to get language added to the resolution to make clear it should not in any way be viewed as an authorization for the use of military force in Israel or Gaza, said Senate aides familiar with the deliberations.
Paul eventually cosponsored and voted for the resolution Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced Thursday.
Schumer said Wednesday that Paul was the “outstanding” senator who had not co-sponsored the resolution.
President Biden is expected to ask Congress to approve $10 billion for military and humanitarian aid for Israel that would be part of a $100 billion foreign aid and national security emergency spending bill.
Schumer said before the vote that the resolution shows the Senate speaks “in one voice that Israel is our friend, that Hamas’ attack is reprehensible, and that we will stand with our friends to defend themselves.”
“Hopefully the Senate will speak in one voice that Israel is our friend, that Hamas’ attack is reprehensible, and that we will stand with our friends to defend themselves,” he added.
The resolution was first co-sponsored by Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), the ranking member of the Foreign Relations panel.
Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) missed the vote.