'Words of conscience': Internet divided as Bernie Sanders accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of committing 'ethnic cleansing'

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen Bernie Sanders accused  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Jewish state committing an "ethnic cleansing" through their actions in Gaza, The Hill reported.

The independent congressman doubled down on his stance during an appearance on CNN's 'State of the Union' on Sunday, April 28. The remark was made in response to questions about the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the US and Democrat Rep Ilhan Omar's remarks while visiting Columbia University in New York.

Omar, whose daughter Isra Hirsi was arrested for the anti-Israel protest, visited the university last week and expressed dismay over the safety of Jewish students. The congresswoman added that antisemitism or bigotry for all Jewish students should not be tolerated, irrespective of their pro-genocide or anti-genocide stance.

Bernie Sanders accuses Israel's PM and opposes US funding for war

"What I think the essential point that Ilhan made is that we do not want to see antisemitism in this country. And I think the word 'genocide' is something that is being determined by the International Court of Justice," Sanders said on CNN.

"But just as what I will say: I don't think there's any doubt that what Netanyahu is doing now — displacing 80 percent of the population in Gaza — is ethnic cleansing. That's what it is. Pushing out huge numbers of people," the lawmaker from Vermont added.

The Israel-Hamas war that started on October 7, 2023, crossed 200 days, killing more than 34,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. In addition, Israel's ongoing offensive on Gaza displaced 1.9 million civilians, i.e., 85% of the region's total population, as per the United Nations.

Besides calling out Isreal over a potential offensive on Rafah, a region where many Gazans fled, Sanders opposed any additional aid to the Jewish state.

"And now we're looking at the possibility of an attack on Rafah, where people have gone to as a so-called safety zone. So, what's going on there, again, to my mind, is outrageous. And as you've indicated, I strongly oppose US funding for Netanyahu's war machine," he said.

Last week, President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package, which included $26 billion for Israel.

Bernie Sanders' opinion divides social media

Netizens split into two sides while weighing in on the Senator denouncing Netanhayu's ongoing war on Gaza. While a group slammed Sanders, the other side supported him.

One user wrote, "Feckless Bernie pretending to not be part of the establishment and not fooling anyone again." While another remarked, "I have to give credit where credit is due. @SenSanders has definitely changed his tune as of late and it is welcomed. Thank you, @BernieSanders."

A third user added, "Bernie confuses self-interest with the lack of the Right to Pursue one's self-interest!" Whereas someone else deemed his remark "Words of conscience!"

"Sanders is a total kook," a fifth response read and another added, "He is so far wrong it does not warrant a response from any common sense person."

On the other hand, an individual stated, "He is right."

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.