Bernie Sanders Questions Motives Behind White House’s Israel Policy on Pod Save America: ‘I Have Some Guesses’

Screenshot via Pod Save America YouTube

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called for action from President Joe Biden to match his call for an “immediate ceasefire” in a phone conversation with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sanders joined Pod Save America’s Jon Favreau for an interview on Thursday, when details about communication between Biden and Netanyahu over the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza this week was made public. An Israeli military investigation has led to two senior officials being dismissed and two more being suspended.

Sanders responded to Biden telling Netanyahu civilian deaths in Gaza are “unacceptable” by arguing much more is needed from the White House to match the president’s outrage.

“We’ll see. As you know, there have been a lot of statements. One day, I’m angry, the president is angry at Netanyahu, the next day he’s very angry, and the next day he’s very, very angry. So what?” the senator said.

He pointed to continued support for Israel through billions of dollars in military aid, which Sanders said should be leveraged to force an immediate ceasefire to get aid into Gaza.

“At the same time, there is support for more military aid. We’re talking about $10 billion in a supplemental bill that I voted against for that reason. I’m not going to give Netanyahu another $10 billion in military aid to continue to kill women and children in Gaza,” he said.

Sanders called Biden a “very decent human being” and said he has “guesses” about the motives of the continued support of Israel.

“The president is not stupid, and I know the president and he is in his heart a very decent human being. I know he’s hurting for what’s going on. Now why they have continued this policy — if you ask me that question, I cannot give you an answer,” he said. “I have some speculation, I have some guesses, but I wouldn’t even say them publicly. I don’t know why.”

Sanders added that he hopes the president’s words indicate some kind of change in policy coming.

“From a moral perspective and from a political perspective, I hope very much that what he’s saying today really does indicate a change in policy,” he said.

Watch above via Pod Save America.