Biden's allies in Senate demand that Israel limit civilian deaths in Gaza as Congress debates US aid

Source: Associated Press

Biden’s allies in Senate demand that Israel limit civilian deaths in Gaza as Congress debates US aid

BY ELLEN KNICKMEYER AND LISA MASCARO
Updated 8:03 AM EST, December 4, 2023

WASHINGTON (AP) — As a cease-fire ticked down last week and Israel prepared to resume its round-the-clock airstrikes, Sen. Bernie Sanders and a robust group of Democratic senators had a message for their president: They were done “asking nicely” for Israel to do more to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza.

Lawmakers warned President Joe Biden’s national security team that planned U.S. aid to Israel must be met with assurances of concrete steps from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right government.

“The truth is that if asking nicely worked, we wouldn’t be in the position we are today,” Sanders said in a floor speech. It was time for the United States to use its “substantial leverage” with its ally, the Vermont senator said.

“And we all know what that leverage is,” he said, adding, “the blank-check approach must end.”

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/congress-israel-gaza-aid-sanders-a760c44986e5381b146d370cada95b52