Sanders calls for ‘significant, extended’ humanitarian pause in Gaza

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called for a “significant, extended humanitarian pause” in Gaza that can build upon Israel’s recent deal with Hamas to pause fighting for a few days and afford some hostages their freedom.

“There must also be a significant, extended humanitarian pause so that badly needed aid — food, water, medicine and fuel — can get into Gaza and save lives,” Sanders wrote in an op-ed Wednesday for The New York Times. “If Wednesday morning’s deal is honored, it is a promising first step that we can build upon, and hopefully work to extend the pause.”

The Israeli Cabinet approved a temporary cease-fire deal Tuesday that will free 50 of the estimated 240 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza over the course of four days. Those released in the first phase will begin with women and children, though U.S officials said the government believes there are more children and women beyond the number identified by Hamas.

The cease-fire would extend an additional day for every 10 hostages released.

The deal is also expected to trigger the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, per a Hamas demand, The Hill reported. Humanitarian aid will be delivered to the besieged region during this time.

Sanders emphasized that the United Nations (U.N.) must be given time to set up a distribution network to help prevent thirst, starvation and disease, and to build shelters and evacuate those in need of care.

“This window will also allow for talks to free as many hostages as possible,” the senator wrote. “This extended pause must not precede a resumption of indiscriminate bombing. Israel will continue to go after Hamas, but it must dramatically change its tactics to minimize civilian harm.”

He added that Israel cannot “bomb an entire neighborhood” for the sake of taking out one Hamas target, later noting there is still much unknown about how successful these campaigns have been.

In a preface to his demands, the Vermont liberal described the Palestinian militant group’s Oct. 7 assault on Israel as a “barbaric attack” against the Jewish state that killed more than 1,200 people, including hundreds of civilians, in addition to more than 200 people taken hostage.

Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response, bombarding Gaza with airstrikes, bombings and ground attacks in the northern part of the enclave. More than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict over the past six weeks, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza.

Coupled with a siege on basic necessities such as food, water, fuel and medicine, several humanitarian agencies and some U.S. lawmakers have called for a cease-fire to curb the rising civilian death toll in the Middle East.

Sanders has led efforts in recent weeks in the Senate to push Israel to minimize and reduce civilian casualties in Gaza.

Taking aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s record, Sanders wrote, “Israel, in response, under the leadership of its right-wing prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under indictment for corruption and whose cabinet includes outright racists, unleashed what amounts to total war against the Palestinian people.”

He urged against a long-term Israeli reoccupation and blockade of Gaza, arguing it would be “absolutely counterproductive and would benefit Hamas.”

The senator also argued new Palestinian leadership will be required and that Israel “must make certain political commitments” and commit to stopping the killings of Palestinians in the West Bank.

“Israel has done nothing in recent years to give hope for a peaceful settlement — maintaining the blockade of Gaza, deepening the daily humiliations of occupation in the West Bank, and largely ignoring the horrendous living conditions facing Palestinians,” he wrote.

Sanders called on the U.S., the international community and Israel’s neighbors to work together toward a two-state solution, while noting Netanyahu “has made clear where he stands” on the issue.

Arguing that “asking nicely” hasn’t worked, the senator said the U.S. must use its billions in funds to Israel as leverage.

“The blank check approach must end,” he wrote. “The U.S. must make clear that while we are friends of Israel, there are conditions to that friendship and we cannot be complicit in actions that violate international law and our own sense of decency.”

In an op-ed last week with The Washington Post, President Biden also said a two-state solution would be the road to peace for Israel and the civilians of Gaza, adding they must have equal measures of freedom, opportunity and dignity.