Amid a largely muted response in Washington, a handful of lawmakers from opposite ends of the political spectrum spoke out Saturday following a United Nations–backed report warning that parts of Gaza are facing famine.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, criticised President Donald Trump over the humanitarian crisis, accusing him of standing by as civilians starve.
“President Trump has the power to end the starvation of the Palestinian people,” Sanders wrote on X. “Instead, he is doing nothing while watching this famine unfold. Enough is enough. No more American taxpayer dollars to Netanyahu’s war machine.”
Sanders has long voiced opposition to U.S. weapons sales to Israel, pressing for restrictions as the civilian toll in Gaza rises.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, also issued a statement calling for compassion for Palestinian civilians, repeating her earlier description of the crisis as “genocide.” While defending Israel’s right to fight Hamas, Greene argued that U.S. military and financial support had tied American taxpayers directly to the conflict.
“Do innocent people and children deserve it? No,” she wrote. “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 comments drew immediate backlash from far-right activist Laura Loomer, who accused Greene of supporting the resettlement of Palestinians in the United States. Greene has not called for such a measure. Loomer, who has previously clashed with Greene over Gaza, has opposed U.S. medical treatment for Palestinian children wounded in the war.
Gaza City, experiencing “man-made” famine
The remarks came after the UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reported that the Gaza governorate, which includes Gaza City, is experiencing “man-made” famine. The agency said conditions are worsening rapidly and called for an immediate large-scale humanitarian response.
Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories rejected the findings, accusing the UN of relying on data manipulated by Hamas.
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, also dismissed the famine warnings in a post on X, accusing Hamas of seizing aid and blaming the UN for mismanagement. “Hostages ARE starving, Hamas is getting fat, & the UN declares famine while 92% of THEIR food is stolen to be sold by Hamas,” he wrote.
The UN has warned that without urgent intervention, hunger will continue spreading across the territory.
