Chuck Schumer Makes Huge Shift In Approach To Israel

WASHINGTON ― Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Thursday known as on Israel to make “significant course corrections” in Gaza, urging the nation to guard civilians, enable in humanitarian assist, and maintain new elections, in an enormous rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities.

“Palestinian civilians do not deserve to suffer for the sins of Hamas and Israel has a moral obligation to do better. The United States must do better,” Schumer stated on the Senate flooring.

“The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7. The world has changed — radically — since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past,” he added.

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in American historical past and the primary Jewish Senate majority chief, has been a staunch supporter of Israel following the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas and the army marketing campaign to return Israeli hostages being held in Gaza. His speech on Thursday was a seismic shift in his strategy to Israel. The New York senator has additionally been underneath rising stress from progressives in his caucus who imagine Israel must do extra to forestall the lack of harmless lives in Gaza, the place the loss of life toll has reportedly topped 30,000.

Last week, eight members of the Democratic caucus despatched a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to implement federal regulation by requiring Netanyahu’s authorities to cease proscribing humanitarian assist entry to Gaza or lose U.S. army assist to Israel.

“Federal law is clear, and, given the urgency of the crisis in Gaza, and the repeated refusal of Prime Minister Netanyahu to address U.S. concerns on this issue, immediate action is necessary to secure a change in policy by his government,” the senators wrote within the letter.

Schumer additionally pointed the finger at Hamas, calling on the militant group to conform to a deal to launch Israeli hostages and expressing frustration with media protection that was crucial solely of Israel.

“It bothers me deeply that media outlets have placed the blame for civilian casualties entirely on Israel,” Schumer stated, including that Hamas can be in charge for hiding behind civilians in Gaza.

This is a creating story. Please examine again for updates.