Biden under pressure as Israel's threat of ethnic cleansing in Gaza raises concerns
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Amid the increasing death toll in the ongoing Israeli genocide, rights advocates in the United States are pressuring President Joe Biden to reassess the administration's stance on Israel, accusing it of complicity in alleged human rights abuses against Palestinians.
The latest controversy stems from comments by far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who suggested encouraging Palestinian emigration from Gaza, a move condemned by critics as potential ethnic cleansing.
The Israeli government's military offensive in Gaza, ongoing since October 7, has resulted in an estimated 1.9 million Palestinians being internally displaced, according to the United Nations. The controversial remarks by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have added fuel to the fire, with concerns raised about the potential consequences of forced displacement, considered a war crime under international law.
Critics argue that the Biden administration has not only failed to condemn these remarks but has also been contributing to the conflict by providing military aid and diplomatic support to Israel.
Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders has taken a stand against the U.S. involvement in the conflict, calling for Congress to block additional funding to Israel. Sanders emphasized that while recognizing Hamas' initial attack, Israel's military response has been deemed "grossly disproportionate, immoral, and in violation of international law."
He urged Congress to reject further funding and asserted that U.S. taxpayers should not be complicit in the destruction of innocent lives in Gaza.
Sanders' growing criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government is evident in his recent actions. Last month, he introduced a resolution urging the State Department to investigate potential human rights violations in Gaza. Sanders also condemned the U.S. veto of a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and the subsequent abstention from a vote on another UN resolution calling for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses" in the war.
As Congress considers Biden's request for $10 billion in aid to Israel, part of a broader funding package for U.S. allies, including Ukraine, and border security, Sanders remains a vocal opponent. He previously opposed a $111 billion funding proposal due to concerns about the money allocated for Israel.
In his statement, Sanders emphasized Israel's right to defend itself but drew a line at what he considered an unacceptable toll on innocent Palestinian lives. The growing rift within Congress over U.S. support for Israel is likely to intensify the debate over the Biden administration's approach to the conflict in the coming weeks.
