Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Sunday defended his determination to oppose a everlasting cease-fire in Gaza, breaking with progressive Democrats within the Home.
Progressive “Squad” members, together with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who was censured final month over her antisemitic chants “from the river to the sea,” which is a slogan that requires the elimination of the state of Israel, have voiced express help for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Showing on CBS’ “Face The Nation” on Sunday, Sanders made a distinction, saying he helps a short lived humanitarian pause in Gaza, referencing the United Nations’ resolution that the US authorities stood alone in rejecting earlier than the U.N. Safety Council on Friday, however argues Hamas militants desire a “permanent war.”
“First of all, I strongly support and wish and hope that the United States will support the United Nations resolution that was vetoed, that we vetoed the other day,” Sanders mentioned. “That was a humanitarian pause, a humanitarian cease-fire that would, by the way, call for the release of all of the hostages held by Hamas and would have allowed the U.N. and other agencies to begin to supply the enormous amount of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. In terms of a permanent cease-fire, I don’t know how you could have a permanent cease-fire when Hamas has said before Oct. 7 and after Oct. 7 that they want to destroy Israel. They want a permanent war. I don’t know how you have a permanent cease-fire with an attitude like that.”
BLINKEN: SEXUAL VIOLENCE HAMAS COMMITTED ON OCT 7 ‘BEYOND ANYTHING THAT I’VE SEEN’
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and a gaggle of Democrat senators say they’re performed “asking nicely” for Israel to do extra to scale back civilian casualties. (AP Photograph/Jose Luis Magana, File)
“Squad” Democrats gathered on Capitol Hill final week and doubled down on accusations that the Israel Protection Forces are concentrating on civilians and committing a “genocide.”
Sanders mentioned Israel “has a right to defend itself” towards Hamas however condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s method.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Well being has reported that greater than 17,000 individuals have been killed in Gaza, although it doesn’t make the excellence between civilians and combatants. CBS host Margaret Brennan cited how Israel has reported killing about 7,000 combatants in Gaza however has not mentioned what number of civilians are believed to have died.
Sanders has argued the US could be complicit in an “all-out war against innocent men, women and children who have nothing to do with Hamas” if his colleagues in Congress approve extra no-strings-attached funding for Israel amid the battle. Whereas Congress didn’t clear an help bundle for Israel amid debate about funding for border safety, Secretary of State Antony Blinken sidestepped the Home and Senate, ushering by means of an emergency deal for extra tank ammunition for Netanyahu’s authorities.
Reps. Cori Bush, left, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib communicate at a press convention on the Israel-Hamas battle outdoors the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 7, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photos)
The US stood alone on the U.N. Safety Council on Friday to dam a United Nations decision demanding a direct humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. The vote within the 15-member council was 13-1, with the UK abstaining. Blinken mentioned Sunday that whereas Israel should proceed its marketing campaign, “it’s imperative that civilians be protected.”
Brennan requested Sanders what he believes “Netanyahu’s government’s intent” is at this stage of the battle.
“It really is hard to say. It may be that they’re responding in rage against the horrific and terrible Hamas attack that killed 1,200 innocent Israelis,” Sanders mentioned. “Or maybe in some of the right-wing extremist minds, there was the goal to drive the Palestinian people off of Gaza completely. But they have now destroyed about half of the housing units in Gaza. So, it’s hard to predict. But I think when Gen. [Defense Secretary Lloyd] Austin said you can win the battle but lose the war, Israel is losing the war in terms of how the world is looking at this situation. And I think that it would be irresponsible for the United States to give Netanyahu another $10 billion to continue to wage this awful war.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks at a information convention to name for a cease-fire in Gaza outdoors the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 13, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photos)
Sanders additionally responded to concern the Israel-Hamas battle may additional divide the Democratic Celebration forward of a presidential election yr.
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“The American people were outraged by Hamas’ attacks against Israel, rightfully so. But they are equally outraged now by what Israel is doing,” Sanders mentioned Sunday. “So, you’re seeing all over this country, people say, ‘Why are we giving money to an Israeli government that is doing such awful things?’ Will it hurt politically? It might. At the end of the day, I think [President] Biden is going to win this election. But what’s going on now is not helpful.”
