Senator Bernie Sanders hosted a luncheon to discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict with fellow Senate Democrats. The Anwar Sadat professor for Peace and Development, Shibley Telhami, spoke to lawmakers about the issues at hand. Some senators raised concerns about conditioning military aid to Israel as the fighting in Gaza intensifies and the civilian death toll rises.
With the civilian death toll in Gaza reaching an estimated 11,000, the unwavering support for Israel’s military among Democrats is starting to erode. Progressive lawmakers are seeking to protect civilian lives and have been calling for more humanitarian assistance to Gaza. However, this stance could complicate President Joe Biden’s policy as he has remained steadfast in supporting Israel in retaliation against Hamas.
The potential for legislative action on conditioning military aid to Israel could create immense pressure on the White House and force Biden to reconsider his support for Israel. The U.S. is also exploring the possibility of establishing safe zones in southern Gaza to allow humanitarian organizations to operate more freely amidst the ongoing conflict. Israeli and Hamas talks for a cease-fire have stalled in recent days, as the international community continues to call for an end to the violence.
