Senator Bernie Sanders on the platform X (formerly Twitter) sharply criticized Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip, stating that Israel is systematically starving Palestinian children and destroying Gaza with bombs and bulldozers.
“A large part of this horror is paid for by American taxpayers,” wrote Sanders.
In his post, he called on the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump and Congress to oppose Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) lobby, and demanded an end to ethnic cleansing and U.S. military aid to Israel.
AIPAC is a U.S. lobby that promotes close relations between the U.S. and Israel. The organization operates in the form of policy advocacy, lobbying the U.S. Congress, and educating the public on issues of U.S.-Israeli relations, and it has significant influence on U.S. foreign policy regarding the Middle East.
Sanders’s statement comes at a time when the humanitarian situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly alarming. The attacks have struck residential buildings, hospitals, and schools, and thousands of civilians have been affected or forced to leave their homes.
It should be recalled that since the Hamas attack on October 7th, 2023, the conflicts between Israel and Palestine have been ongoing intensely. The conflicts have resulted in a large number of civilian casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and mass displacement of the population. Israel is facing accusations from various international organizations of possible violations of international humanitarian law, including claims of crimes against humanity and genocide, while humanitarian organizations are appealing for urgent aid to the affected population.
