‘Israel Is Committing War Crimes’: House Democrat Demands Biden Call Out Netanyahu Gov’t At SOTU For ‘Intentionally Starving’ Civilians

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) demanded that President Joe Biden call out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government at the State of the Union address for “intentionally starving” civilians in Gaza.

The House Democrat joined CNN anchor Jim Acosta for an interview on Thursday morning, where he advised the president to not only call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, but also call out Netanyahu’s government for reportedly blocking humanitarian aid into the region.

Recently, the president has vowed to airdrop humanitarian aid into Gaza as civilians face mass starvation and lack of medical supplies. Last weekend, Vice President Kamala Harris demanded a ceasefire in the region for at least six weeks in order for civilians to receive aid and medical attention.

Castro noted that although Hamas committed war crimes during the October 7th attack, Israel’s refusal to allow aid into Gaza needs to be addressed by the president. Part of their exchange is below:

CASTRO: I believe that Hamas had committed war crimes on October 7th. I think it’s become very clear that Israel has now committed war crimes. They are intentionally starving people, and there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people who are starving. So the president should absolutely call for a ceasefire tonight. The United States and the president and the Congress are either going to stand up for human rights. What the United States professes to believe in. And we do, or we’re going to stand down and do nothing and let these people starve. This kind of unconscionable act is not in the interest of the United States, of Israel, or obviously of the Palestinians. And so I hope that the president will call for a ceasefire, and will push back as hard as he can on Benjamin Netanyahu.

ACOSTA: Congressman, I mean, I have to tell you, the Israelis are going to say that war crimes were committed on October 7th.

CASTRO: I agree, I think having watched the footage when the Israeli embassy presented the footage, here in Congress, I went and watched it. I think that that is true. And I think, for example, the kidnaping of children is a war crime. But the starvation of children and the suffering that has gone on because of it. And, you know, by now, 20,000 or so, women and children are at war who have perished. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is committing war crimes right now, and we have to face that.

Watch the clip above via CNN.