In a bold and controversial move, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has publicly labeled Israel's military actions in Gaza as "genocide."
This declaration, a first for Sanders, was made in an opinion piece published on his personal website. Sanders acknowledged the potential for disagreement with his stance, stating, I recognize that many people may disagree with this conclusion.
He further elaborated, "The truth is, whether you call it genocide or ethnic cleansing or mass atrocities or war crimes, the path forward is clear. We, as Americans, must end our complicity in the slaughter of the Palestinian people.
As reported by Newsmax, the conflict in Gaza, which has been ongoing for nearly two years, has resulted in civilian casualties numbering in the tens of thousands. The war began after the tragic killing of approximately 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023.
According to estimates from a former chief of the Israeli military, the Palestinian death and injury toll exceeds 200,000. Former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi commented on the severity of the situation, stating, There are 2.2 million people in Gaza. There are in Gaza today more than 10% who were killed or injured, more than 200,000. This is not a gentle war.
These figures align closely with reports from the Palestinian Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas. The ministry has claimed about 65,000 people killed and more than 164,000 injured numbers Sanders cited in his article. However, Hamas has not disclosed how many of the deceased were terrorists.
In March 2024, Sanders made a strong statement to CBS News, saying, "The United States of America cannot be complicit in this mass slaughter of children." He was among the first senators to challenge President Joe Bidens military aid for Israel.
Sanders' comments came in the wake of a major Israeli offensive in Gaza City, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to eliminate all remaining Hamas terrorists.
Sanders also highlighted the dire living conditions in Gaza, where almost all water and sanitation facilities are non-functional, and the region has been without electricity for nearly two years. He criticized the Israeli government, accusing them of making life unbearable through bombing and starvation, and promoting the 'voluntary' migration of Palestinians to neighboring countries to pave the way for President Trumps vision of a 'Riviera of the Middle East.'
Sanders argued that Israel's actions over the past two years have not been a simple defense against Hamas. He wrote, Instead, it has waged an all-out war against the entire Palestinian people.
The Vermont senator's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a stark departure from the conservative viewpoint, which typically supports Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, a group recognized by many as a terrorist organization. His comments have sparked a heated debate, reflecting the complexity and divisiveness of the situation in Gaza.
As the conflict continues, it remains to be seen how the U.S. will navigate its role in this volatile region, balancing its commitment to Israel with the growing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Login