US Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Israel’s policy of “collective punishment” of Gaza’s population by blocking the entry of aid, stating it “will starve children”. In a post on X on October 15, Sanders said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “extremist government” is cutting off food and shelter for 2 million people in Gaza. He added that Israel’s actions are “illegal and immoral”, calling for an end to using US taxpayer dollars “for these atrocities” and to US military aid to Israel.