Astoundingly, Senator Bernie Sanders’ op-ed against arms sales to Israel asserts that Americans are complicit in “horrific and illegal atrocities” in Gaza. It’s a dark day when a senator can't tell the difference between Hamas and Americans. Thankfully, almost 80 percent of the U.S. Senate rejected Sanders’ assertions.

Hamas and their supporters systematically perpetrated torture, rape, sexual mutilation, murder and kidnapping on Oct. 7, 2023. They have held Israeli and American hostages for over 411 days. Hamas buried rocket launchers in playgrounds, located military operations in hospitals and schools, and stole billions in aid to build an underground war machine. For these and many other reasons, Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization and, contrary to Sen. Sanders, the good people of America have not.

Ignoring contrary evidence, Sanders praises United Nations Relief and Works Agency as the “backbone of humanitarian response in Gaza.” However, UNRWA staffers are confirmed Hamas commanders and operatives, and UNRWA’s infrastructure is deemed an “essential asset” for Hamas. The UN’s own June 2024 report confirmed participation of UNRWA staff in planning and executing the Oct. 7 attack.

Israel is a democracy and an important western ally. I’m not sure the same can be said of Sen. Sanders.

Mark I. Fishman

New Haven

Editor’s note: The writer is president of PRIMER-Connecticut (Promoting Responsibility in Middle East Reporting).