Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has become the first US senator to publicly declare that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide. In a strongly worded statement released on his Senate webpage, Sanders declared the conclusion "inescapable," citing the devastating casualty figures and statements by Israeli officials. He highlighted the death toll of at least 65,000 Palestinians and over 164,000 wounded, representing a significant percentage of Gaza's population, with data suggesting a disproportionately high number of civilian casualties. Sanders pointed to statements by Israeli officials like Defense Minister Yoav Gallant referring to Palestinians as "human animals" and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vowing the "entire destruction" of Gaza as evidence of genocidal intent.
While acknowledging Israel's right to self-defense following the October 7th attacks, Sanders asserted that the scale and nature of the Israeli response constitute an all-out war against the entire Palestinian population, not solely a defensive action. He argued that the response has indiscriminately targeted civilians, leading to the immense loss of life and suffering.
Sanders' statement marks a significant shift, particularly considering his previous reluctance to use the term "genocide." He previously expressed discomfort with the term when confronted by protesters. However, the UN's independent commission of experts' conclusion that Israel's actions meet the criteria for genocide, coupled with the overwhelming evidence of civilian casualties and inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli officials, appears to have solidified his position.
His call for an immediate ceasefire, a substantial increase in UN-facilitated humanitarian aid, and the initiation of steps towards Palestinian statehood follows his condemnation. Furthermore, he has renewed his calls for an end to US military aid to the Israeli government, demanding accountability for what he terms "war crimes." Sanders joins a growing number of US representatives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Becca Balint, who have also used the term "genocide" to describe the situation in Gaza. The statement comes amid international discussions regarding potential recognition of Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly and stands in stark contrast to the Trump administration's consistent support for Israeli actions in Gaza.
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Originally published at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/17/bernie-sanders-israel-gaza-genocide
