We're All Complicit In Israel's War Crimes Unless We're Doing Something To Stop Them

Most Democratic Elected Officials Are As Bad As Republicans

The October 7, 2023, barbaric attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians was a deliberate and coordinated act of terror, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. This assault, characterized by indiscriminate violence against non-combatants, constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law and is widely recognized as a war crime.

In response, Israel launched a brutal military campaign in Gaza that has led to the deaths of over 53,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians and especially women and children, and the displacement of nearly 2 million people. The scale and intensity of Israel's operations have raised serious concerns regarding the principles of proportionality and distinction under international law, which requires that military actions avoid excessive civilian harm relative to the military advantage gained. Reports from human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, argue that Israel’s operations, including “indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks” due to relaxed rules of engagement, constitute violations of international humanitarian law and potentially war crimes. The International Court of Justice’s May 2024 order to halt military actions in Rafah that could lead to the “physical destruction” of Palestinians underscores these concerns. Israeli forces have employed heavy weaponry in densely populated areas, resulting in widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and significant civilian casualties, making it hard to deny that Israel’s project has turned into collective punishment and ethnic cleansing at best, genocide at worst. The ensuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn condemnation from various quarters, including within Israel. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, criticized the Israeli government's blockade of Gaza, stating that “starving civilians will not achieve the ‘total victory’ Israel seeks” and urging adherence to ethical conduct even during war.

In the United States, public opinion on the conflict is divided. While a Gallup poll indicated that 50% of Americans approved of Israel's military actions in Gaza, 45% disapproved. Despite this division, bipartisan political support from American elected officials for Israel remains strong, with the U.S. providing massive military aid and diplomatic support, persisting even as international criticism of Israel's actions grows.

American complicity in Israel’s actions is a contentious issue with bipartisan dimensions, despite polling indicating increasing anger inside the Democratic base. A 2023 NPR poll showed 56% of Democrats viewed Israel’s response as excessive, driven by younger voters and people of color. Morally, U.S. support raises questions about accountability for enabling actions that cause significant civilian harm, particularly as reports, like a September 2024 ProPublica investigation, suggest the U.S. ignored evidence of Israel blocking aid. While Republicans back Israel’s actions (52% in 2023 called the response “about right”), Democratic divisions reflect a generational and ideological split, with younger and progressive voices, condemning U.S. involvement as complicity in “war crimes.”

Last month Bernie proposed two resolutions to block $8.8 billion in bombs and munitions, which failed, just 15 senators voting with Bernie the way the Democratic base wanted them to: Dick Durbin (IL), Martin Heinrich (NM), Mazie Hirono (HI), Tim Kaine (VA), Andy Kim (NJ), Ben Ray Luján (NM), Ed Markey (MA), Jeff Merkley (OR), Chris Murphy (CT), Brian Schatz (HI), Tina Smith (MN), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Peter Welch (VT). The rest of them, like the Republicans, are complicit in war crimes and should eventually be tried and, in my opinion, severely punished. That doesn’t just include conservative Democrats like Fetterman (PA), Slotkin (MI), Gallego (AZ), Kelly (AZ), Shaheen (NH), Hassan (NH) and Bennet (CO), but also senators who try, at least sometimes, to pass themselves off as progressives like Cory Booker (NJ), Ron Wyden (OR) and Alex Padilla (CA).

This morning, Bloomberg News reported that Netanyahu has now officially admitted that “Israel will take over the entire Gaza Strip,” while announcing that the IDF will carry out an “unprecedented attack” on Hamas.

It’s urgent for anti-genocide Democrats to speak out loudly and clearly and few have been willing to. Yesterday, though, on Face the Nation, Chris Van Hollen did:

Margaret Brennan: “We just showed some reporting from our colleague Debora Patta with incredible pictures from our shooter inside of Gaza, Marwan. It's hard to look at pictures of children in that level of starvation. You have said: ‘The Israeli government is starving civilians and the U.S. is complicit in the gross violation of international law.’ The U.N. is begging to go in. The Israeli government says they don't want to work with the U.N. here. They want to work with this Gaza humanitarian foundation that's just being set up. What do you know about this? Should there be U.S. support for it?”

Van Hollen: “So, Margaret, you're right. It's very hard to look at those pictures. And the United States has been complicit. President Trump was in the region and really did nothing, said virtually nothing about what's happening in Gaza, which is on fire. We're in the 77th day of a full blockade. Two million Palestinians are starving. This is collective punishment that is clearly illegal under international law. And this other idea that's been cooked up either by the Israelis or by the Trump administration is clearly not fit for purpose when it comes to trying to address this burgeoning famine. And all it will do is further allow food to be used as a weapon of war. So, I hope the United States will back off this plan. None of the credible international organizations have said that they will participate, because it violates international norms in how it's structured. And so I hope the United States will back off and immediately call today to allow the trucks right now that have food to be able to come provide food to starving people. These are provided by international aid organizations.”

Brennan: “Is there anything that the United States can do in terms of leverage? You were— you have been bipartisan in your criticism. You said that what happened in Gaza is a black stain on Joe Biden's legacy as president. You are criticizing the current administration for not doing more here.  What leverage is there? I mean, is what you're saying falling on any ears that want to listen?”

Van Hollen: “I have had conversations with some people in the Trump administration and made clear that they need to do more. One of the very obvious things they could do is, President Trump today could call upon the Netanyahu government to let aid in. I mean, the president acknowledged there are people starving in Gaza the other day. He said so. But why hasn't he called on Netanyahu to let the aid in? Let's just start with that.”

Yesterday on This Week, Trump crony and special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff told Jonathan Karl that “I don’t think there’s any daylight between President Trump’s position and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s position.” If he’s correct, Trump agrees that the Palestinians should be forcibly and permanently removed from Gaza, which explains why Trump and his team have come up with the plan to send at least a million Gazans to Libya.

This morning Heather Caygle and Max Cohen reported that longtime stent Hoyer aide (since 1996) Brian Romick is the new executive director of the pro-genocide DMFI, hired by new board chair ex-Rep. Kathy Manning, who says her priority is to elect pro-genocide Democrats to the House. Expect DMFI to funnel millions dollars into primaries against progressives. also expect the Democratic establishment to contibue screeching about David Hogg while coddling Manning and Romick.