'Time for you to retire': Internet divided as Bernie Sanders slams Joe Biden's 'totally absurd' Israel policy

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen Bernie Sanders slammed President Joe Biden's policy towards Israel as the Jewish state continues its offensive on Gaza as a response to the October 7, 2023 attacks, reported Mediaite.

During an interview on MSNBC's 'Alex Wagner Tonight' on Friday, March 1, the progressive Senator criticized the United States' "totally absurd" approach to Israel, especially as the war-torn region faces the looming threat of famine amid a Palestinian death toll surpassing 30,000.

Bernie Sanders's take on US policy towards Israel

The Democratic Senator, who previously opposed a permanent ceasefire, pointed to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where people are starving due to a lack of food and insufficient aid reaching the region.

"We are talking about hundreds of thousands of children facing starvation," he said. "We're talking about Israeli bombs making it impossible for humanitarian aid to get to places that it is needed, the borders are being blockaded and aid is unable to get through."

Sanders added, "So I think what the president is doing is an important step forward, but we need to do more. We need to tell Netanyahu and his right-wing government that they're gonna have to open those borders."

The US, along with Jordan, airdropped humanitarian aid into Gaza on March 2 for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October 2023.

However, Israel is restricting humanitarian assistance to the war-torn region, a move the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres labeled as a form of "collective punishment" against Palestinians.

Sanders emphasized the need for a new approach towards Israel, which has been a financial beneficiary of the US for many years.

He also revealed that he voted against the recent $14 billion aid package for the Jewish state, adding PM Benjamin Netanyahu's government should not get another nickel "if he's gonna continue this wholesale slaughter of the Palestinian people."

The host, Alex Wagner, then pointed at the juxtaposition of the US airdropping aid to Gaza and sending war weapons to Israel at the same time and asked how Sanders reconciled the contradiction.

"You can't reconcile it. It's totally absurd. And on top of that, look, the airdrops are very important. But that is not as important as opening up the borders because you're gonna need hundreds of hundreds of trucks every single day," the Senator responded.

"And our message to Netanyahu, you know what? You're not gonna get another nickel unless you open those borders and prevent the starvation, which is imminent," he added, calling the conflict "an unprecedented disaster."

The United States is Israel's strongest ally and largest military supplier; however, the country is facing increased pressure to condemn Israel's ongoing invasion of Gaza as the death toll crosses 30,000.

Internet split over Bernie Sanders' remarks

While one group of netizens slammed Sanders for being too late to call out the US's continuing support to Israel, another group suggested it was better late than never.

One user wrote, "Time for you to retire."

While a user wrote on Facebook, "Better late than never, I guess."

"When will he retire? I cannot stand him," another user added.

A user said, "Better late than never…in this case not so much, but better than nothing!"

"Then do something about it, Bernard. @BernieSanders," read one response.

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