Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a former Democrat and now Independent presidential candidate has spoken out against the recent Biden administration pushed ceasefire in Gaza.
Earlier this month, CNN reported that President Joe Biden was calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Israel’s campaign to eliminate Hamas’ ability to launch future terrorist strikes from Gaza.
Kennedy Jr. has been critical of Biden’s wavering support of Israel, noting he previously applauded Biden’s expressed support for the Jewish state.
This ignominious, unprovoked, and barbaric attack on Israel must be met with world condemnation and unequivocal support for the Jewish state’s right to self-defense. We must provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself — now. As President, I’ll make sure that our policy…
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) October 7, 2023
However, anti-Israeli sentiment is increasing in the Democrat Party. Recently Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for an immediate ceasefire and the resignation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming Israel’s leader “has lost his way.”
The Young Turks profiled Netanyahu’s response to Schumer’s statement. The popular leader said, “I think what he said was totally inappropriate. It’s inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to displace the elected leadership.”
On March 1, Biden demanded a ceasefire and insisted that more aid shipments be sent.
Biden’s demand for an increase in aid shipments comes as multiple reports indicate Hamas operatives have commandeered and redirected shipments of fuel and emergency supplies sent to refugees in the region.
Without noting new provisions to ensure aid shipments reach their intended targets, President Biden said: “We’re going to insist that Israel facilitate more trucks and more routes to get more and more people the help they need, no excuses.”
Kennedy Jr. criticized Biden’s recent statements, telling Reuters, “I don’t even know what that means right now.”
The candidate explained that Israel has a right and responsibility to forcefully respond to groups responsible for perpetrating violent acts on her citizens. Though Hamas has a decades-long history of launching missiles and sending incendiary balloons into Israel, the recent flashpoint occurred last fall.
On Oct. 7, Hamas attacked multiple civilian centers inside Israel, brutally murdering over 1200 citizens and taking approximately 250 hostages. Israel responded by sending troops into Gaza to destroy the terrorist group’s ability to launch future attacks.
Kennedy Jr. said in his interview with Reuters: “Any other nation that was adjacent to a neighboring nation that was bombing it with rockets, sending commandos over to murder its citizens, pledging itself to murder every person in that nation and annihilate it, would go and level it with aerial bombardment.”
He added: “But Israel is a moral nation. So it didn’t do that. Instead, it built an Iron Dome to protect itself so it would not have to go into Gaza.”
The candidate’s position on Israel puts him at odds with the left wing of the Democrat party but aligns with many Independents and most Republicans.
The Daily Caller reported that influential Democrats who oppose Kennedy Jr.’s view include Reps. Rashida Tlaib (MI) and Rep. Cori Bush (MO), Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR).
