In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's characterization of the ongoing demonstrations as "horrific," Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has fired back, asserting that it is not anti-Semitic or pro-Hamas to address the alarming number of Palestinian casualties caused by Israel's extremist government.

Sanders, known for his left-wing political stance and caucusing with the Democrats, took to social media to express his disagreement with Netanyahu's statement. On X, the senator stated, "No, Mr. Netanyahu. It is not anti-Semitic or pro-Hamas to point out that in a little over six months, your extremist government has killed 34,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 77,000 - with 70% of the casualties being women and children."

While left-wing Democrats have accused college authorities of a heavy-handed response to the protests, concerns about potential instances of anti-Semitism at the rallies have been voiced by some lawmakers within the party. On the other hand, Republican lawmakers have been far more vocal in their criticism of the student activists.

Congresswoman Nancy Mace from South Carolina, in a recent post on X, criticized the alleged terrorism directed towards Jewish individuals on college campuses, stating, "Today in the US, we have entitled little Ivy League students terrorizing Jews on campus, and their punishment? Student loans paid off by American taxpayers. Thanks Joe Biden."

Another South Carolina Republican, Senator Tim Scott, who is also considered a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump, expressed the need to stand up against hate and support the Jewish community. On X, he wrote, "We cannot be a nation of hate. Standing in the gap for our Jewish brothers and sisters is the right thing to do and it is the American thing to do."

The growing political nature of the protests, combined with the contrasting responses from lawmakers across party lines, highlights the contentious atmosphere surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing protests within the United States.