Sanders repeats call for end to US ‘endless supply’ of weapons to Israel
U.S. President Joe Biden (R) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S. on July 25, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Senator Bernie Sanders on Friday reiterated his call for the United States to stop supplying weapons to Israel.
Commenting on the recent Gaza cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Sanders expressed hope that the destruction would soon end and that hostages would be reunited with their families.
“As this horrific war hopefully comes to an end, the suffering of the Palestinian people remains. This cease-fire is just the first step,” he said.
Sanders emphasized the urgent need for massive humanitarian aid to reach starving and malnourished people in Gaza and called on the international community to ensure the cease-fire becomes permanent.
‘US allowed this major atrocity’
The senator also reflected on the U.S. role in the conflict. “The United States allowed this mass atrocity to continue by providing an endless supply of weapons to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and failing to exert meaningful leverage,” he said.
He described the U.S. military support as a violation of U.S. and international law. “This must not happen again. Future political leaders should learn from this terrible lesson and restore respect for our own laws and moral principles,” Sanders added.
Qatar brokered a three-phase agreement on Wednesday to end more than 15 months of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which have claimed nearly 47,000 lives and devastated the enclave.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.
