US Senator Bernie Sanders has strongly criticized congressional leaders for inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he labeled a "war criminal," to address a joint session of the US Congress.
"It is a very sad day for our country that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited – by leaders from both parties – to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress," said Sanders, an Independent lawmaker known for his left-leaning stance. "Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend."
The invitation to Netanyahu was extended by bipartisan congressional leaders, including Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. Netanyahu reportedly accepted the invitation, with his address expected to take place "as soon as the next eight weeks or soon after August recess," according to an informed source cited by The Hill.
Sanders emphasized that Israeli forces have been unlawfully killing tens of thousands of innocent people in Gaza since launching a genocidal war against Palestinians following a retaliatory operation by resistance groups on October 7.
"Israel does not have the right to kill more than 34,000 civilians and wound over 80,000 – 5 percent of the population of Gaza. It does not have the right to orphan 19,000 children. It does not have the right to displace 75 percent of the people of Gaza from their homes," Sanders said.
The latest figures from Gaza's Health Ministry report close to 36,400 Palestinians killed in Israel's relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Sanders also criticized the Israeli regime for blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, dismantling its healthcare system, and bombing schools.
"It most certainly does not have the right to block humanitarian aid – food and medical supplies – from coming to the desperate people of Gaza, creating the conditions for starvation and famine," he added.
Previously, Sanders stated he would not attend any speech by Netanyahu in Congress, describing Israel's actions as creating "the worst humanitarian disaster in modern history."
