Progressive Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has rejected calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saying the Palestinian terror group is “devoted to unrest and chaos and to the destruction of the State of Israel.”
Sanders, who is Jewish, said even Arab countries in the region know that Hamas must be destroyed — and a ceasefire will not help matters.
Israel has been bombarding Gaza for more than three weeks, after Hamas launched an attack and massacred more than 1,300 Israelis in their homes and at a music festival.
Hamas has kidnapped and held hundreds of people, including children, hostage. Israel says a ceasefire will not be possible until the hostages are released.
Sanders told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” on Sunday: “I don’t know how you can reach a ceasefire, a permanent ceasefire, with an organization like Hamas, which is committed to unrest and chaos and the destruction of the State of Israel. .
Progressive Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has rejected calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saying the Palestinian terror group is ‘dedicated to unrest and chaos and destroying the State of Israel’
Thousands of people hold an emergency sit-in and demand a ceasefire in Gaza at Grand Central Station in New York on October 27, 2023
“What the Arab countries in the region understand is that Hamas must leave.”
“The immediate task right now is to end the bombing, to end the horrific humanitarian disaster, to build with the whole world a bipartisan, two-state solution to the crisis over Palestinian to give people hope.
“But if anyone thinks Trump will be better than Biden on this issue or any other issue, I think they are sorely mistaken.”
Sanders is not alone in this opinion. Secretary of State Antony Blinken remains opposed to a ceasefire, saying it would essentially give Hamas time to launch another attack on Israelis.
Two weeks ago, President Biden suppressed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and told Hamas to release the hostages the militants had captured from Israel – “then we will talk.”
He made the comment at the White House shortly after reports that Hamas had released two hostages held in Gaza after the October 7 terror attack.
He was asked if any hostages had been released for a ceasefire at the end of an event on his economic agenda.
Fire and smoke rise from buildings after Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Sunday, November 5
“We need to release those hostages, then we’ll talk,” Biden responded.
Today Iran issued a chilling threat to the United States, telling it it would be “hit hard” if a ceasefire is not implemented in Gaza, amid renewed fears that the war Israel against Hamas in Gaza could escalate.
Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani, Iran’s Defense Minister, emphasized the urgency, saying: ‘Our advice to the Americans is to immediately stop the war in Gaza and implement a ceasefire, otherwise they will be hit hard. ‘
But Mr Blinken rejected a ceasefire, insisting that Iran-backed Hamas would only be given a chance to regroup after the horrific attack on Israel on October 7, which killed 1,400 civilians and killed more than 240 people were taken hostage.
Instead, Mr. Blinken urged “pauses” in the fighting so civilians could evacuate from the Gaza City battlefield and the northern part of the enclave, which is under heavy Israeli artillery shelling as the war enters its 30th day .
The uncompromising tone was echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed at an air base: “There will be no ceasefire without the return of our hostages, we say this to both our enemies and our friends.” We will keep going until we beat them.”
Another senior Iranian government figure further increased tensions with the West.
Mohammad Reza Naqdi, deputy leader of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said: “If Israel’s crimes continue, we must strike at American interests,” without specifying how.
Iran considers the US, Israel’s main ally, to be “militarily involved” in the conflict.
The US has consistently defended Israel’s right to defend itself and has offered military support, in addition to moving its warships and 2,000 Marines to the region.
Iranian regime officials have consistently warned Israel of possible escalation if attacks on Gaza do not stop, with the death toll in the Gaza Strip expected to rise to more than 9,700, Hamas-led officials say.