WASHINGTON, D.C. , July 8, 2025 – Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has issued a scathing rebuke of President Donald Trump’s decision to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, accusing the leader of overseeing war crimes in Gaza. In a statement released late Tuesday, Sanders highlighted the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) indictment of Netanyahu, which alleges responsibility for the systematic killing and starvation of civilians—a charge rooted in a December 2023 Human Rights Watch report labeling Israel’s actions as using starvation as a method of warfare.
The controversy erupted as Trump rolled out the red carpet for Netanyahu on July 8, coinciding with renewed U.S. ceasefire proposals aimed at ending the nearly 21-month-long Gaza conflict. The White House has prioritized resolving the war, with Trump announcing a “final proposal” for a 60-day ceasefire, anticipating responses from both Israel and Hamas. However, Sanders’ statement underscores a deepening divide, citing staggering casualty figures: the Gaza Health Ministry reports 57,575 deaths as of April 2025, while The Lancet estimates the toll could reach 186,000 when including indirect deaths from destroyed healthcare infrastructure and lack of resources.
Sanders’ remarks included grim details from the ICC indictment, noting allegations of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts from October 8, 2023, to May 20, 2024. He pointed to a coalition of over 200 NGOs warning last week that Palestinians face an “impossible choice” due to restricted aid, with Red Cross reports indicating Gaza’s hospitals are overwhelmed by a “relentless surge” in critical cases. The senator also referenced a May 2025 U.S.-Israeli humanitarian plan to distribute food via private contractors and Israeli soldiers, which he criticized as inadequate amid ongoing starvation reports.
The visit has sparked heated reactions on X, with supporters of Sanders decrying the warm reception for Netanyahu, while critics argue the ICC’s credibility is undermined by alleged biases. As negotiations hang in the balance, the intersection of geopolitics and human rights continues to fuel a global debate, with Sanders calling for accountability over what he terms a “war criminal’s” presence in Washington.