Bernie Sanders: Stop funding Israel’s ‘immoral’ and ‘disproportionate’ war

In previous statements during the current war, Sanders has stopped short of demanding Israel submit to a permanent ceasefire. 

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Independent Vermont US Senator Bernie Sanders is demanding that Congress stop all funding to Israel because he believes Israel’s actions against Hamas have been “grossly disproportionate, immoral, and in violation of international law.”

Sanders wrote a statement urging Congress to reject the proposed $10.1 billion unconditional aid to Israel to avoid allowing it to “continue its brutal war against the Palestinian people.”

Sanders, who identifies as a Democratic Socialist, has been an outspoken critic of Israeli policy and particularly of Prime Minister Netanyahu, although in previous statements during the current war, he has stopped short of demanding Israel submit to a permanent ceasefire.

However, Sanders seems focused on abolishing all aid to Israel in his current statement and any assistance from the United States.

Sanders wrote, “We must understand that Israel’s war against the Palestinian people has been significantly waged with US bombs, artillery shells, and other forms of weaponry. And the results have been catastrophic.”

The progressive Senator cited the figure of 22,000 casualties in Gaza and quotes that most are women and children, although these numbers from Hamas Health Ministry have not been independently verified nor has it been confirmed that they are making any distinction between terrorists and civilians.

Sanders also mentioned the widely discussed humanitarian crisis in Gaza and laid the blame at the feet of Israel.

He wrote, “Today, not only are the vast majority of people in Gaza homeless, they lack food, water, medical supplies, and fuel. ”

The IDF has shown videos of soldiers delivering fuel to Shifa hospital in Gaza only to have the fuel tanks confiscated by Hamas.

In addition, the IDF has reported to news agencies that Hamas regularly steals and hoards supplies intended for civilians.

Sanders called for an end to funding for Israel, “Enough is enough. Congress must reject that funding. The taxpayers of the United States must no longer be complicit in destroying the lives of innocent men, women, and children in Gaza,” concludes Sanders.