Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and eight Democratic colleagues plan to force a vote in the Senate in the coming weeks to require the State Department to produce a report for Congress on violence by settlers and Israeli forces in the West Bank, including killings and detentions of Americans.

If the resolution were to pass — which is unlikely — and the State Department were to fail to produce the report within 30 days, most U.S. security assistance to Israel would be cut off. After such a report was delivered, any senator would also be able to force a vote on cutting off aid to Israel.

The last time the Senate voted on a similar resolution, demanding an investigation of Israel for potential war crimes, in January 2024, just eleven senators voted for it — so the new resolution is already set to meet and very likely exceed that benchmark.

The resolution accuses both the Israeli and American governments of failing to seek accountability for the killings of U.S. citizens. The legislation also raises concerns about the detention of Palestinian minors, alleged widespread human rights abuses in Israeli prisons, settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank. And it highlights attacks on Christians and churches in Israel in the West Bank.

The report required by the bill demands details of any investigations of or evidence gathered by the U.S., Israel, Palestinian Authority or nongovernmental organizations related to killings of nine Americans in the West Bank in recent years, including potential suspects; details about Palestinian minors detained by Israel; the identities of individuals accused of human rights violations in Israeli prisons; and details of U.S. efforts to address these activities.

Van Hollen, in a statement, accused the administration of failing to seek justice or accountability for Americans killed in the West Bank.

“It’s past time we get answers on their deaths — and on the growing violent instability in the West Bank and the injustices facing Palestinian civilians on a daily basis,” Van Hollen said. “This resolution will require the State Department to begin to produce these answers, which are owed to the families of those who have lost loved ones, to the American people, and to all of those who want to ensure recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars are acting in line with our laws and our values.”

The Maryland senator, who is considering a 2028 presidential bid and is also seen as a potential contender for Senate Democratic leader, has been working to push the party to the left on Israel policy issues.

Kaine said that violence by Israeli settlers “is reaching an unprecedented level.”

“These actions — and the Israeli government’s lack of response to this violence — are unacceptable and threaten the long-term safety and security of the entire region,” Kaine said in a statement. “Friends need to listen to each other, and my colleagues and I have repeatedly urged Israeli leaders to take firmer action to curtail illegal settlements in the West Bank, prosecute violent settlers, and protect Palestinian residents as well as American citizens living in or visiting the West Bank.”

Sanders said in a statement, “Every day, Palestinians in the West Bank experience horrific violence at the hands of Israeli settlers and security forces — and for years, the Israeli government has offered impunity instead of accountability. Enough is enough. The United States cannot keep bankrolling this violence and looking the other way — it’s time to end our complicity, once and for all.”

Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR.), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Peter Welch (D-VT) are cosponsoring the resolution.