Even President Donald Trump has acknowledged that there is “real starvation” in Gaza, dismissing Israeli claims that there is no hunger in the territory.
That rare moment of disagreement with Israel from the US president represents a growing willingness in Washington to criticize Israel over its conduct in Gaza.
“I see it, and you can’t fake that,” Trump said of the mass hunger killing Palestinians.
But the Trump administration has yet to move against Israel. Instead, the White House and State Department have been repeating the same lines, blaming Hamas for Israel’s well-documented war crimes and abuses.
The executive branch’s unconditional support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his genocidal government remains unmovable.
However, many in Congress – especially the Democratic side – are starting to speak out, putting a dent in the bipartisan consensus over Israel enjoys in Washington.
Still, for now, pro-Israel politics continue to rule the day in the US. But the increasingly vocal dissent on the issue may change the equation in the long term.
That shift was underscored by a July 28 statement from Senator Angus King, who has a pro-Israel pro-voting record.
King said that he “will advocate—and vote—for an end to any United States support whatsoever until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy.”
‘Indefensible’
King added that he “cannot defend the indefensible”.
“Israel’s actions in the conduct of the war in Gaza, especially its failure to address the unimaginable humanitarian crisis now unfolding, is an affront to human decency.”
The Israeli-imposed starvation in Gaza has killed at least 122 people so far. The agonizing photos of emaciated children are too difficult to dismiss.
And Israeli lies about Hamas stealing the aid and the United Nations failing to distribute it have been too debunked to cite even by Israel’s staunchest supporters.
And so, the starvation campaign is undeniable, and it’s pushing politicians to speak out.
Bernie Sanders released an equally powerful statement, accusing
Netanyahu’s government of “extermination” in Gaza.
“Despite these war crimes, carried out daily in plain view, the United States has provided more than $22 billion for Israel’s military operations since this war began. In other words, American taxpayer dollars are being used to starve children, bomb civilians and support the cruelty of Netanyahu and his criminal ministers,” Sanders said in a statement.
“Enough is enough. The White House and Congress must immediately act to end this war using the full scope of American influence. No more military aid to the Netanyahu government. History will condemn those who fail to act in the face of this horror.”
Congressman John Garamendi suggested that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
“Israel has the ability and the means to deliver adequate food to the Palestinians,” Garamendi said in a statement. “They also have the obligation under international law to deliver it; it’s the choice of Prime Minister Netanyahu not to feed Gaza.”
For her part, Michigan’s Debbie Dingell said: “Starvation is not self defense. The blockade must end.”
Obama speaks out
Former President Barack Obama – who approved a record sum of military aid to Israel during his presidency through a 10-year memorandum of understanding – joined rights advocates in calling for humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza.
“Aid must be permitted to reach people in Gaza. There is no justification for keeping food and water away from civilian families,” Obama said without blaming Israel directly for the starvation campaign.
Hillary Clinton – another uncompromising supporter of Israel – issued a similarly vague statement on the issue.
“Aid organizations report that thousands of children in Gaza are at risk of starvation while trucks full of food sit waiting across the border,” Clinton said.
“The full flow of humanitarian assistance must be restored immediately.”
Andre Carson provided a clear contrast with the Obama and Clinton approach by naming the culprit in the genocidal campaign in Gaza.
“Gaza isn’t starving. It’s being starved,” Carson wrote in a social media post. “The Israeli government has blocked humanitarian aid into Gaza for over 8 months.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blamed Trump, not Israel, for the hunger crisis in Gaza.
“The starvation and death of Palestinian children and civilians in an ongoing war zone is unacceptable,” Jeffries said. “The Trump administration has the ability to bring an end to this humanitarian crisis. They must act now.”
Bottomline, after more than 22 months of killings, destruction, mass kidnapings, blockade and torture – policies that UN experts say amount to genocide – the suffering of Palestinians at the hands of Israel is becoming too difficult to ignore in the US.
Public opinion polls show that Americans from both major parties are increasingly critical of Israel. In a democracy, Washington should not be far behind.
The tide is turning, but will US politicians stand for the human rights of Palestinians before it’s too late?
