In a recent interview with NPR's All Things Considered, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders expressed his strong criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Sanders, who is one of the most prominent Jewish officeholders in the United States, has emerged as one of the fiercest critics of Israel's actions in the region.

Responding to Netanyahu's video in which he criticized campus protests across the U.S. as antisemitic, Sanders released a video of his own refuting the prime minister's statement. Sanders stated that he felt the need to respond because he believed Netanyahu has been attempting to divert attention from the dire situation in Gaza by discussing antisemitism.

Sanders voiced his view that Israel's response to Gaza has been disproportionate, arguing that the high number of casualties and injuries demonstrate the gravity of the situation. He highlighted the plight of the 2.2 million impoverished Palestinians in Gaza, emphasizing that over the past six months, 33,000 people have been killed and 77,000 wounded, with two-thirds being women and children.

Addressing criticisms that the campus protests are connected to a rise in antisemitism, Sanders acknowledged the existence of antisemitism in society and condemned all forms of bigotry. However, he dismissed the notion that those protesting against Israel's actions are inherently antisemitic. He asserted that the majority of protesters understand that Hamas is a terrorist organization and are disgusted by the suffering inflicted upon the people of Gaza.

Sanders also sharply disagreed with Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who labeled these protests as antisemitic and compared them to the events in Charlottesville. Sanders maintained that while there may be individual antisemites present, the overwhelming majority are simply expressing their opposition to funding what they perceive as a right-wing extremist government in Israel, causing immense harm to the people of Gaza.

When asked about the potential impact of the Gaza crisis on the upcoming election, Sanders admitted his concern. He believed that the anger among young voters and various segments of the Democratic base regarding the Biden administration's stance on the issue could have consequences. However, he expressed confidence that when faced with the choice between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the American people will recognize the significant differences between the two candidates on various important issues.

Regarding the effectiveness of pressure on Israel, Sanders acknowledged some progress in humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, potentially due to President Biden's influence. However, he stressed the contradiction in criticizing Netanyahu's actions while simultaneously providing substantial military aid. Sanders argued that continuing to provide unfettered military support sends a clear message, undermining any critics' words.

While Bernie Sanders continues to voice his concerns about Israel's actions in Gaza and the potential political repercussions within the Democratic base, he maintains that the vast contrasts between Biden and Trump's policies on a range of critical issues will ultimately sway voters in the upcoming election.