The U.S. Senate voted down three bills by Independent Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont that would have stopped the U.S. from selling arms to Israel worth about $20 billion.

Sanders introduced three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) in late December of last year. Given that Israel has a lot of support in the upper chamber, the motions were not expected to pass.

Sanders has spoken out against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military actions and limits on sending aid. He says that Israel is breaking international law and going beyond its right to protect itself.

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Along with other military aid, the three resolutions tried to stop the transfer of U.S. tank rounds, water rounds, and guidance kits attached to the “bombs dropped in Gaza” to Israel. The steps would have stopped the U.S. from selling about $20 billion worth of weapons to Israel.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the United States has given Israel more than $310 billion in economic and military aid, including at least $228 billion in military aid. The United States is a strong ally of Israel.

“The United States government is currently in violation of the law, and every member of the U.S. Senate who believes in the rule of law should vote for the resolutions,” Sanders said the day before the vote.

The Vermont Independent alleged that the U.S. is breaking the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act by giving weapons to countries that break internationally recognized human rights or that stop U.S. humanitarian help.

The United Nations and many humanitarian groups have told the world about Israel’s violations, pointing out in particular its limits on sending humanitarian help. Israel has said it will provide food and other kinds of humanitarian help.