WASHINGTON DC, USA – In a forceful critique aimed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US Senator Bernie Sanders has issued a sharp condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling for an immediate halt to the violence that has led to significant civilian casualties.
Speaking with MSNBC on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Sanders did not mince words: “Stop murdering innocent people,” Sanders said. “Two-thirds of the people who have been killed, over 32,000 people have been killed [in Gaza], are women and children. This is inexcusable.”
Israel has killed more than 200 aid workers in 6 months.
Netanyahu: Stop murdering innocent people. pic.twitter.com/qUCjF2xIbL
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 2, 2024
This plea comes in the wake of a deadly strike in Gaza that killed seven aid workers, amid ongoing hostilities that have resulted in over 32,000 deaths, predominantly among women and children.
The conflict, triggered by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, has since escalated into a dire humanitarian crisis, with Sanders highlighting the severe repercussions on Gaza’s civilian population.
The senator outlined the extensive destruction of homes, the displacement of 1.8 million people, and critical shortages in essentials such as food, water, and medical supplies.
Sanders called the situation “one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the modern history of the world,” and strongly criticised the U.S. for its role in facilitating the conflict through continued military aid to Israel.
“What’s going on in Gaza now is one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the modern history of the world,” Sanders said. “I mean, we’re talking about the possibility of hundreds of thousands of children and others starving to death.
“And it’s absolutely true that Hamas, [a] terrorist organisation, started this war. But it is also true that right now, what Israel is doing is fighting not just Hamas but going to war against the entire Palestinian people.
“ … We’re talking about 70% of the housing units in Gaza that have been destroyed or damaged. We’re talking about 1.8 million people who have been displaced, thrown out of their homes. We’re talking about people who today don’t have food, don’t have water, don’t have medical supplies, don’t have fuel.
“It is horrible. It is inexcusable. And it’s got to end right now. The United States cannot continue to be complicit in the horror that is taking place now.”
As a prominent voice on the left and a figure of significant influence within the Democratic Party, Sanders’ comments reflect a growing internal debate over U.S. foreign policy towards Israel and the broader Middle East.
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His statements underscore a deep concern for the humanitarian impact of the conflict and a call for the U.S. to reconsider its support for actions that contribute to civilian suffering.
“Israel has the right to go after Hamas who started this war,” Sanders said. “Israel does not have the right to … create a situation where they’re stopping humanitarian aid from getting in [to Gaza]. The result of this is children are starving to death right now. Do we want to be complicit in that? The answer, in my view, is most Americans … do not want to be complicit.”
Sanders also addressed the potential political implications of the ongoing conflict, including its impact on President Joe Biden’s re-election prospects.
The former US presidential hopeful was asked if he was worried about the impact the Gaza crisis might have on the chances of Bident’s re-election.
“Yeah, I am,” he said.
“No matter what, it’s going to be a difficult election and I’m going to do everything that I can, despite my disagreement with the president over what’s going on in Gaza, to make sure that Donald Trump is not elected president of the United States. That would be a horrific disaster for our country.
“But do I think that a lot of young people, people of colour, many people … the polling is very clear. The Democratic base wants to stop funding for Netanyahu’s war machine.
“So if your question is, is it going to hurt the president unless he turns this around? Yeah, it will.”
He expressed worry that continued U.S. support for Netanyahu’s policies could alienate key segments of the Democratic base, emphasising the need for a shift in policy to reflect American values of justice and humanitarianism.
The U.S.’s recent abstention from a United Nations vote calling for a ceasefire in Gaza signals a complex stance on the issue, reflecting internal pressures and the challenging balance of international relations.
