Bernie Sanders, a Vermont senator and former US presidential candidate, told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Please stop killing innocent people.”
Sanders delivered a blunt message in an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday, a day after seven aid workers were killed in an Israeli military strike in Gaza.
Sanders: “Stop killing innocent people” Said. “Two-thirds of those killed, more than 32,000 people.” [in Gaza], women and children. This is unacceptable. ”
Prime Minister Netanyahu is unlikely to heed the advice of the democratic socialist senator, a hero of the American left who caucuses with the Democratic Party as an independent. But Sanders’ words will resonate throughout the Democratic Party, which is in turmoil over Israel’s war against Hamas and the Biden administration’s reluctance to rein in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people. Since then, Israel has attacked Gaza, ignoring calls for restraint.
“What is happening in Gaza right now is one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the modern history of the world,” Sanders said. “So we’re talking about the potential for hundreds of thousands of children and others to starve to death.
“And it is absolutely true that the terrorist organization Hamas started this war. But it is also true that what Israel is doing now is not just waging war against Hamas, but against the entire Palestinian people. be.
“…We are talking about 70% of Gaza’s homes destroyed or damaged. We are talking about 1.8 million people who have been forced to flee their homes and be displaced. Today we are talking about people without food, water, medicine, and fuel.
“It’s terrible. It’s unacceptable. And it has to end now. The United States cannot continue to be complicit in the horrors that are happening right now.”
For February only, 2 Senate Democrats He joined Mr. Sanders in voting against new aid to Israel. Republican resistance to arms deliveries to Ukraine stalled the bill in the House, but the Biden administration continues to supply arms to Israel.
“Israel has the right to go after Hamas, which started this war,” Sanders said. “Israel… has no right to create a situation that prevents the flow of humanitarian aid.” [to Gaza]. As a result, children are now starving to death. Do we want to be part of it? The answer, in my opinion, is that most Americans don’t want to be complicit. ”
The United States recently abstained from a United Nations vote on a ceasefire in Gaza, its strongest move yet to signal disapproval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But as Israeli attacks continue, so do protests on the American left, which could affect election-year events such as the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.
Sanders was asked if he was concerned about the impact the protests would have on Biden’s re-election chances.
“Yes, yes,” he said.
“No matter what, it will be a difficult election, and despite my differences with the president on what is happening in Gaza, I will do everything in my power to prevent Donald Trump from being elected president of the United States.” state. It would be a terrible disaster for our country.
“But do many young people, many people of color, many people think that?…The polls are very clear: The Democratic base wants to defund Prime Minister Netanyahu’s war machine. .
“So your question is, is it going to hurt the president if we don’t turn this around?” Yeah, it will. ”
