Greene and Sanders unite across party lines over Gaza famine

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
Today 08:39
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US lawmakers Bernie Sanders and Marjorie Taylor Greene urge action on Gaza’s worsening famine, challenging Washington’s support for the Israeli genocide.

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, R-Ga., calls for impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during a news conference on Capitol Hill, on February 1, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

In a rare display of bipartisan concern, US lawmakers Marjorie Taylor Greene and Bernie Sanders urged Washington to address the worsening famine in Gaza, following a UN-backed report warning of catastrophic hunger in the territory.

Sanders said on X that President Donald Trump "has the power to end the starvation of the Palestinian people” but is “doing nothing while watching this famine unfold." He reiterated his call to block US weapons sales to "Israel", framing continued military aid as enabling the humanitarian disaster.

Let’s be clear: President Trump has the power to end the starvation of the Palestinian people.

Instead he is doing nothing while watching this famine unfold.

Enough is enough. No more American taxpayer dollars to Nethanyahu’s war machine. https://t.co/gM0e3IUSIQ
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 23, 2025

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right Republican from Georgia, echoed the sentiment, describing the crisis as a genocide in a previous post and urging Americans to "have compassion for the masses of innocent people and children in Gaza."

If America was being bombed day and night because of something horrific our government did, and many innocent Americans and American children were being killed and traumatically injured, and we begged for mercy, but the rest of the world said,

“Americans voted for their…
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) August 23, 2025

Greene directly tied US financial and military assistance to "Israel" to the ongoing war, asserting that it “means every US taxpayer is contributing to Israel’s military actions.”

She added, “I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to pay for genocide in a foreign country against a foreign people for a foreign war that I had nothing to do with. And I will not be silent about it.”

Her remarks sparked backlash from right-wing commentator Laura Loomer, who accused Greene of advocating for Palestinian resettlement in the US, a claim Greene did not make.

The starkly contrasting voices of Sanders and Greene, united by humanitarian concern despite ideological differences, reflect a growing unease over US support for "Israel's" military campaign amid mounting civilian suffering in Gaza.

UN-backed panel officially declares famine as Gaza’s population starve

For the first time, famine has been officially declared in Gaza City by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the global system that monitors hunger. Since its establishment in 2004, the IPC has issued formal famine declarations only four times, most recently in Sudan last year.

Although the IPC had previously warned of imminent famine in Gaza, the absence of hard data had prevented formal recognition. The current declaration confirms that Gaza City, home to roughly 500,000 residents, now meets the strict famine criteria: at least 20% of households experiencing extreme food shortages, 30% of children suffering acute malnutrition, and two deaths per 10,000 people per day caused by outright starvation.

The IPC briefing, shared with partner organizations including Save the Children, Oxfam, and UNICEF, stated that the famine affects the Gaza Governorate, which includes Gaza City, three surrounding towns, and several refugee camps.

Humanitarian impact and mortality

The IPC forecasts further deterioration in food security between mid-August and the end of September. Nearly 641,000 people are expected to face catastrophic conditions, while those in emergencies could rise to 1.14 million. Gaza’s health ministry reported 271 deaths from starvation, including 112 children, in recent weeks. The overall death toll from 22 months of Israeli genocide has now reached 62,192.

"Israel" is under growing pressure to allow more food into Gaza, facing criticism for its blockade on aid. The UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy signed a statement accusing "Israel" of violating international law over settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli occupation forces claimed that medical officials and international organizations had been warned to prepare for the "planned evacuation of Gaza City residents" ahead of the ground offensive, with already overwhelmed hospitals in southern Gaza forced to make "adjustments to accommodate incoming patients."