Bernie Sanders sparks debate as he reaffirms vow to boycott Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Bernie Sanders reiterated his commitment to boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, once again condemning the leader as a "war criminal" and criticizing his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend," Sanders stated on Saturday, June 1, as reported by The Hill.

Bernie Sanders laments bipartisan support for Benjamin Netanyahu's invitation to Congress

This strong rebuke followed the official invitation for Netanyahu to speak before Congress, which was extended by Speaker Mike Johnson and co-signed by key leaders from both parties, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Sanders has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu and Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Previously, he denounced any potential speech by Netanyahu in Congress, asserting that Israel had created "the worst humanitarian disaster in modern history".

Sanders’ opposition came as Speaker Johnson actively sought to bring Netanyahu to Congress, with Schumer, despite previous criticisms of the Israeli leader, willing to support the invitation.

In his Saturday statement, Sanders lamented the bipartisan support for Netanyahu's invitation, calling it a "sad day" for the United States.

While acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself following the October 7 Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of around 250, Sanders vehemently criticized the subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza.

"Israel does not have the right to kill more than 34,000 civilians and wound over 80,000 – 5% of the population of Gaza. It does not have the right to orphan 19,000 children or displace 75% of the people of Gaza from their homes," Sanders declared.

He further condemned the extensive damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, including the destruction of the healthcare system, which saw 26 hospitals put out of service and over 400 healthcare workers killed.

Expressing support for International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan’s efforts to seek arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas leaders, Sanders remarked, "The ICC is right. Both of these people are engaged in clear and outrageous violations of international law."

Bernie Sanders' statements about Benjamin Netanyahu ignite heated debate online

Sanders' statements ignited a heated debate online, with reactions sharply divided.

One user on Facebook dismissed Sanders as "Bernie the fake. Always fighting the wrong enemy."

Another user remarked, "Netanyahu won't even notice Sanders absence."

Criticism of Sanders continued with comments like, "Totally ridiculous. He is not improving with age," and "Good Bernie, stay at home. You look like you need the rest."

However, support for Sanders was also evident, with one user proclaiming, "Bernie would have made an excellent president. Truly a man for the people."

A sixth user mentioned, "Bibi isn't welcome on US soil. No one wants Bibi drenched in blood entering the holy of holies of democracy."

Another user remarked, "Netanyahu should be formally detained and arrested upon entering the United States and then turned over to the International Criminal Court."

Lastly, a user wrote, "All of Bernie's decisions are made with honesty, integrity, and intelligence."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.