MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has sharply criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, saying the Israeli government “did not have the right” to carry out what he described as genocide against Palestinians and calling for an end to U.S. taxpayer funding for Israel.
Speaking at an event in Minnesota on Monday, Sanders accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of waging an “all-out war against the Palestinian people,” arguing that the scale of civilian deaths and destruction in Gaza could not be justified.
“Israel did not have the right to kill tens of thousands of Palestinians, mostly women, children and the elderly,” Sanders said, while also accusing Israeli forces of causing widespread damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, water systems, electricity networks and housing.
The senator said the United States should not continue providing financial support to the Israeli government, arguing that American taxpayers should not fund policies that contribute to civilian suffering.
“Israel did not have the right to commit genocide against the people of Gaza,” Sanders said, adding that the Netanyahu government “should not get one nickel more from US taxpayers.”
Sanders, a longtime critic of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, has repeatedly called for restrictions on U.S. military assistance and urged Washington to pressure Israel over civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions.
The war, which began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has caused massive destruction across Gaza and created a severe humanitarian crisis. Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people have been killed and large parts of the territory’s infrastructure have been destroyed.
Israel has rejected accusations of genocide, saying its military operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas and protecting Israeli civilians. Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that they seek to minimize civilian harm while fighting an armed group operating within densely populated areas.
Sanders’ comments come amid continued international debate over the Gaza war, U.S. military assistance to Israel, and growing calls for accountability and a lasting political solution to the conflict.
