Sanders Accuses Israel of Committing “Genocide”
On Wednesday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made a bold statement, asserting for the first time that Israel is committing “genocide” in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Sanders, known as one of the most vocal critics of the Israeli government in Congress, acknowledged Israel’s right to self-defense following the loss of 1,200 Israeli lives and the capture of 250 individuals during the attack on October 7, 2023. However, he argued that Israel’s actions over the past two years have transcended mere defense of its people.
“Instead of just defending against Hamas, it feels like Israel has been waging an all-out war on the Palestinian people as a whole. Several legal experts have come to the conclusion that this amounts to genocide in Gaza,” he stated. In a recent op-ed titled “It’s Genocide,” he emphasized this viewpoint.
The senator pointed to various legal experts and human rights organizations that have echoed claims that Israel is engaging in genocide. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have consistently denied these allegations.
A recent report from an independent panel commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council suggests there is substantial evidence indicating that Israel has committed four out of the five genocide acts outlined by international law since the conflict escalated in early October 2023.
Israel’s officials have dismissed this report as “fake,” accusing its authors of acting as representatives of Hamas—a group the U.S. designate as a foreign terrorist organization—while also alleging openly anti-Semitic sentiments.
“This report relies heavily on lies propagated by Hamas, further parroted by others. Numerous independent and thorough academic studies, such as one from BESA, have thoroughly debunked these false claims about genocide,” stated Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response.
On the same day, Israeli forces initiated a ground operation in Gaza City, aiming to seize control of what they claim is Hamas’s final stronghold. This move has faced significant backlash from the global community.
According to international law, genocide is defined as actions intended to destroy national, ethnic, racial, or religious groups. These actions can include killing members of a group, causing serious physical or mental harm, inflicting conditions aimed at physical destruction, implementing measures to prevent births, or forcibly transferring children from one group to another.
Sanders, who is Jewish, noted the significance of intent in legal definitions. He cited statements from Israeli leaders that, in his view, reflect a troubling intention. Early in the conflict, the Israeli Minister of Defense reportedly characterized their actions by saying they are “fighting human animals.” Other officials echoed similar sentiments, calling for the complete destruction of Gaza.
“The intent is clear, and the conclusion, I believe, is inevitable. Israel is committing genocide in Gaza,” Sanders concluded.
This op-ed marks the first time Sanders has explicitly labeled Israel’s actions as genocide since the conflict with Hamas escalated in early October 2023.
He acknowledged that his conclusion might be controversial. “People can debate what to call it—genocide, ethnic cleansing, massive atrocities, or war crimes. But the way forward seems clear,” he remarked.
Sanders reiterated his calls for the U.S. government to cease sending weapons to Israel and to push for immediate regional ceasefires along with a significant increase in humanitarian aid to affected areas.
