Bernie Sanders Has Finally Called for a Cease-Fire. Sort Of.

Some former staffers also released a video message urging him to take action. Former staffer Hannah Fertig said, in the video, ​“As a fellow Jewish American, [your deep commitment to the basic humanity of all Israelis and Palestinians] is something that I’ve always admired about you, and why I came to work for you.” Other staffers shared their disappointment in his stance on this issue, considering he is the ​“strongest voice in the Senate on progressive foreign policy,” and an inspiration to many anti-war activists. ​“We ask you to stand up more forcefully, as you always have, against war and bombs and for peace, freedom and justice,” says one staffer in the video.

Over the past two months, former Sanders voters and volunteers have also pleaded with him to call for a cease-fire and take a different stance on Israel’s aggression, expressing their disappointment with some of his previous actions and rhetoric. On both his official and campaign social media accounts, the senator has received countless critical comments on posts both about the crisis in Gaza and unrelated issues, such as union campaigns. One Instagram comment reads, ​“I, along with many others, rallied our Arab American and Palestinian communities to vote for you. Twice. And they responded resoundingly. … The millions of Arab, Palestinian and Muslim Americans put their political lives on the line for you. Do right by us. Call for a CEASE-FIRE NOW!”

Prior to Wednesday’s letter to Biden, Sanders called for a ​“humanitarian pause” in Gaza to get more aid into the region and allow at least some number of hostages to leave safely. He publicly rejected calls for a cease-fire and was even, somewhat ironically, applauded by AIPAC for his ​“clear and principled opposition to calls for a cease-fire with Hamas.” Sanders then tried to distance himself from the pro-Israel lobbying group. 

To the senator’s credit, he has almost always spoken up about Palestinian rights, which is why the fact he hadn’t called for a cease-fire has been so confounding. During a debate with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leading up to the 2016 primary, Sanders said, ​“We are going to have to treat the Palestinian people with respect and dignity.” He also, at least in part, credits the growth of Hamas to the blockade on Gaza, which he says needs to end along with freezing settlements in the West Bank.

But as the death toll in Gaza approaches 20,000, many would like to see more from Sanders and his colleagues. On December 10, during a CBS News interview, Sanders asserted that Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas and opposed calling for a permanent cease-fire — a popular demand among many anti-war activists. The following day, dozens of activists protested inside a Senate office building to demand a permanent cease-fire, leading to almost 50 arrests. 

“Funding more death and destruction of human life…makes no one secure, and instead fuels hatred and continued war,” said Sandra Tamari, executive director of the Adalah Justice Project, an organization involved in the protest, in a news release. ​“The Senate must heed our urgent demand to stop funding militarism and instead invest in life.”