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Senator Bernie Sanders declared on Tuesday that Israel is carrying out genocide in Gaza, calling the conclusion as “unavoidable” and marking himself as the pioneering US senator to employ the term.

Shift in Stance

“During the recent period, Israel has not simply acted in self-defense against the militant group,” Sanders wrote. “Instead, it has conducted an comprehensive offensive against the whole Palestinian people.”

Sanders had previously received criticism from advocates and protesters for steering clear of the term, which he once said made him “uncomfortable” when shouted during a speech in the Irish nation.

United Nations Findings and Reaction

On Monday, an independent UN panel of experts determined that Israel’s actions “meet the criteria set forth in the international treaty on genocide”.

“I agree,” Sanders stated in a declaration. “The purpose is evident.”

Sanders referenced death tolls: at least 65,000 Palestinians killed and 164,000 injured out of a population of 2.2 million, with information from an Israeli military repository suggesting that 83% of those deceased were civilians.

He also highlighted statements by government figures as evidence of motive, citing defense minister Yoav Gallant calling Palestinians “human animals” and treasury head Bezalel Smotrich promising “Gaza will be entirely destroyed”.

Right to Defend vs Proportionality

While Sanders acknowledged Israel had a entitlement to protect its citizens after the October 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people, he argued the response has targeted all Palestinians in Gaza.

“The United States, must halt our involvement in the killing of the Palestinian people,” he wrote. “Having named it as a genocide, we must use every ounce of our influence to demand an immediate ceasefire, a massive surge of humanitarian aid facilitated by the UN, and preliminary measures to provide Palestinians with a state of their own.”

Growing Group of Backers

He now joins a limited yet increasing list of congressional representatives including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, as well as Vermont lawmaker Becca Balint, who also called it a crime against humanity that same day.

“Now, I believe the Israeli government is committing a systematic extermination against the Palestinian people,” Balint stated. “Being a descendant of a man killed in the Shoah, it is not easy for me to say that.”

Earlier Documents and Accusations

Recently, Democratic senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley released a study following their recent trip to the region, where they say they’ve come to the “inevitable determination” that ethnic cleansing is being committed in Gaza and that the United States is involved.

Global Background

The statement also comes as multiple countries including Australia, France, Luxembourg, Malta, Canada and the UK plan to recognize Palestinian statehood at next week’s UN meeting in New York.

Still, the US leadership has supported Israeli actions since coming into office. In March, the White House said Trump “completely endorses” Israel’s operations in Gaza, while Trump has proposed the US take control over the territory to help enable Palestinian departures.

In the US, the administration has simultaneously increased efforts to suppress dissent from pro-Palestinian voices, with the foreign ministry issuing wide directives to diplomatic offices in March to vet student visas over “terrorist activity”, which include social media posts.

Past Attempts and Calls

Sanders has before led Senate efforts to prevent offensive weapons sales to Israel through bipartisan measures of disapproval, and while getting half of Democratic party members in the Senate to support it, the initiatives have not succeeded in stopping arms transfers.

Now, the independent lawmaker called again for ending US military aid to “Benjamin Netanyahu’s genocidal government” and demanded an urgent cessation of violence.

“The very term genocide is a reminder of what can happen if we do not act,” Sanders wrote. “That word emerged from the Holocaust – the murder of 6 million Jews – one of the most tragic chapters in human history. Be certain. If there is no responsibility for Netanyahu and his associated war criminals, other extremists will do the same.”