Sen. Bernard Sanders, one of the most liberal members of Congress, doubled down Sunday on his refusal to call for a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The Vermont independent, who caucuses with Democrats and is Jewish, said the U.S. should not have blocked a United Nations resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in the Gaza Strip amid a high civilian death toll but that the counter-offensive must ultimately continue to destroy the terrorist group.
“I don’t know how you can have a permanent cease-fire with Hamas, who has said before Oct. 7 and after Oct. 7 that they want to destroy Israel and want a permanent war. I don’t know how you have a permanent cease-fire with an attitude like that,” Mr. Sanders said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
He was responding to criticism from his left flank, which has ramped up pressure on Democratic lawmakers to call for a cease-fire and ahs accused Israel of committing war crimes as Congress weighs more military aid for the Jewish state.
“Israel has the right to defend itself and go after Hamas, not the Palestinians,” Mr. Sanders said.