In a seismic and deeply consequential address to the US Senate, veteran Senator Bernie Sanders levelled an accusation that has sent shockwaves through the political establishment: he formally declared that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
The independent senator from Vermont, himself of Jewish heritage, delivered his historic speech on the Senate floor, marking a definitive and stark break from the mainstream US political stance. He argued that the scale of death and destruction in the besieged enclave meets the legal definition of the term, as outlined in the 1948 Genocide Convention.
A Damning Indictment of US Policy
Senator Sanders did not solely focus his ire on Israel. His speech served as a scorching indictment of the United States' own role in the conflict. He directly implicated Washington as a complicit party, citing the billions of dollars in military assistance provided to Israel.
"You do not have to be an international lawyer to read the Genocide Convention and understand what is going on in Gaza," Sanders declared, his voice resonating through the chamber. He presented a harrowing catalogue of evidence to support his claim, detailing the catastrophic civilian death toll, the systematic obliteration of neighbourhoods, and the deliberate creation of a full-scale humanitarian crisis.
The Evidence on the Table
The senator methodically laid out his case, pointing to:
- The staggering number of Palestinian casualties, the majority being women and children.
- The widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, and universities.
- The imposition of a crippling siege, severely restricting access to food, clean water, fuel, and medical supplies.
- The mass displacement of over 80% of Gaza's 2.3 million population.
"This is not a war against Hamas," Sanders asserted. "This is a war against the entire Palestinian people."
A Call for Immediate Action
Moving beyond condemnation, Sanders issued a powerful demand for immediate and tangible action. He called on the US government to fundamentally reassess its relationship with Israel and to halt all military funding until the offensive concludes.
His address is seen as the most forceful and high-level invocation of the term 'genocide' by a US politician regarding the ongoing war. It represents a significant moment, amplifying the voices of human rights organisations and legal experts who have been making similar allegations for months.
The speech is expected to intensify the already fierce domestic debate in the US over its unwavering support for Israel and could redefine the boundaries of acceptable discourse in Washington for years to come.
