Senator Bernie Sanders had strong words today as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington. “As President Trump and Members of Congress roll out the red carpet for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, let’s remember that Netanyahu has been indicted as a war criminal by the International Criminal Court for overseeing the systematic killing and starvation of civilians in Gaza,” Sanders said.
He detailed the human devastation under Netanyahu’s leadership: over 57,000 Palestinians killed, 135,000 wounded, and 17,000 children dead, with more than 3,000 children losing limbs. Sanders cited Israeli soldier testimony published in Haaretz describing daily indiscriminate killings at aid sites: “It’s a killing field… where between one and five people were killed every day… just live fire with everything imaginable… I’m not aware of a single instance of return fire.”
Sanders concluded with a blunt condemnation, calling Netanyahu “a war criminal who will be remembered as one of modern history’s monsters.” His remarks came as Netanyahu met with Trump and members of Congress to discuss U.S. policy in the Middle East.
As President Trump & Congress roll out the red carpet for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, let’s remember that Netanyahu has been indicted as a war criminal by the International Criminal Court for overseeing the systematic killing and starvation of civilians in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/9WRJjTaM7L
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 8, 2025
On Monday night, Netanyahu dined privately with President Trump in the White House Blue Room. The two leaders discussed a proposed 60-day ceasefire plan in Gaza, which would include phased hostage releases and partial Israeli troop withdrawals while indirect talks continue in Qatar. During dinner, Netanyahu surprised Trump by nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize, reportedly praising recent U.S. airstrikes as “transformative moments” for the region.
Today, Netanyahu is scheduled for further meetings with Trump and senior officials to discuss Gaza diplomacy, humanitarian aid corridors, and potential expansions of the Abraham Accords with Arab states. Outside, hundreds of protesters have gathered, calling for an immediate ceasefire and condemning the U.S. for hosting Netanyahu amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.