Key facts
- A vote on holding Israel accountable for the deaths and imprisonment of US citizens in the West Bank could occur next week.
- Nine US citizens have been killed by Israelis in the occupied West Bank over the last four years.
- Senator Chris Van Hollen introduced Senate Resolution 852, which allows lawmakers to request human rights reports from the State Department on countries receiving US assistance.
- Twenty-four Democratic senators have co-sponsored the resolution.
- The resolution can be brought up for a vote due to its 'privileged' status.
- No Republican senators have supported the resolution.
US Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) stated on Thursday that a vote on holding Israel accountable for the killings of nine US citizens in the occupied West Bank, as well as the imprisonment of three others, could take place as soon as the following week. Van Hollen introduced Senate Resolution 852 earlier this month, which allows lawmakers to request human rights reports from the State Department on countries that receive US assistance. Israel is the largest recipient of US foreign aid, having received $3.3 billion in 2025.
Van Hollen expressed optimism, noting that 24 Democratic senators have co-sponsored the resolution. He described the vote as a 'privileged resolution,' meaning it can bypass other legislative business due to its urgency for accountability. If the vote does not occur next week, it will be delayed until after the November 3 midterm elections. Van Hollen urged Americans to contact their senators to support the resolution.
He identified the lack of Republican support as a key obstacle, stating that no Republican senators are willing to demand justice for the American citizens. The Senate currently comprises 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats, meaning a tied vote would be broken by Republican Vice President JD Vance.
Last month, 45 Senate Democrats signed a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging his direct engagement to protect US constituents and their families. The letter referenced a surge in violence in the occupied West Bank, including attacks by settlers, and called for Israel to investigate violations of law and complete its own investigations into the deaths of the nine US citizens. The article also noted that many of these cases became high-profile, yet Washington has not demanded independent investigations outside the Israeli military's purview. Examples of those killed include Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, and ice cream shop worker Sayfollah Musallet. The report also mentioned that Israeli attacks have killed over 1,100 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank over the past three years.