Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has elaborated on his persistent reluctance to endorse calls for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
He expressed doubt over the feasibility of such a proposal while Hamas, a group he accuses of advocating for the mass extermination of Jews and other Israeli civilians, remains in control of the region.
Sanders, along with other progressive lawmakers, has been under increasing pressure from the left to support the call for a ceasefire. Many of his followers from his two presidential campaigns are now leading the charge, urging the Biden administration to leverage the US's influence with Israel to broker a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Sanders stated, "I don't know how you can have a permanent cease-fire with Hamas, who has said before 7 Oct and after 7 Oct that they want to destroy Israel, they want a permanent war. He made these remarks on CBSs Face the Nation, expressing skepticism about the possibility of a lasting ceasefire given Hamas's stance.
However, Sanders also criticized the Biden administration for using the US's veto power at the United Nations to thwart a call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. This would have allowed for the delivery of aid to civilians trapped in the conflict zone and the rescue of hostages still held captive following the 7 Oct attack.
In the House of Representatives, several dozen Democrats have expressed support for the US demanding a permanent ceasefire. However, this sentiment has been slower to gain traction in the Senate, with only two senators, Dick Durbin and Jeff Merkley, publicly endorsing this view.
Sanders and fellow progressive John Fetterman have borne the brunt of the criticism for not supporting these calls. Other senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, are also facing similar pressure.
In the Senate, Sanders has been at the forefront of calls for the Biden administration to tie aid to Israel to serious efforts to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza. Recently, he has appeared to completely reject any further aid to Israel without a significant shift in the Israeli military's strategy.
Sanders condemned the actions of the Netanyahu government during a floor speech on Monday, stating, What the Netanyahu government is doing is immoral. It is in violation of international law, and the United States should not be complicit in those actions.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the conflict has resulted in approximately 18,000 casualties in the Gaza Strip, predominantly civilians. Reports indicate that thousands of young children have been killed or severely injured and traumatized.
Meanwhile, the Republican majority in the House has shown a divided response to the issue. GOP caucus lawmakers unanimously assert that Israel has the right to take any military action it deems necessary to completely eradicate Hamas. At the same time, they have drafted a resolution to label progressive supporters of Palestinians as broadly antisemitic.
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