Criticism continued in Washington denouncing the Israeli war on Gaza and plans to displace Palestinians from the Strip, while an Israeli minister responded by saying that his country “is not another star on the American flag,” in reference to the independence of its decision.
In a new anti-war statement, US Senator Bernie Sanders said that the Israeli military response to the attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) was “disproportionate and immoral.” He called for “an end to American funding for Netanyahu’s immoral war on the Palestinian people.”
For its part, the US State Department said that Washington rejects the recent statements of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir calling for the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza.
In what appeared to be a response to the American position rejecting his invitation, Ben Gvir said, “We are not another star on the American flag, and the United States is our best friend, but we will do what is best for Israel,” referring to Tel Aviv’s lack of connection with the American ally in making its decisions.
For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a call with Israeli Minister of the War Council Benny Gantz that “statements related to the displacement of the population of Gaza are unacceptable and contradict the two-state solution.”