Bennet Statement Following Sanders Resolutions

Washington, D.C. - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the statement below after voting against U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders's (D-Vt.) joint resolutions of disapproval:

"Israel must be able to defend itself against Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and Iran's proxies from Syria to Yemen. Passing these resolutions would send a dangerous signal to Tehran, undermining our own national security and Israel's. The votes we cast today will not bring us closer to a ceasefire deal or two-state solution, or alleviate the human agony in Gaza.

"This terrible war has inflicted enormous human suffering and trauma on Israelis, Palestinians, and those far beyond the Middle East. To this day, more than a year after October 7th, Hamas still holds almost 100 hostages, among them at least seven Americans, while rejecting ceasefire deal after ceasefire deal. The death toll of Palestinian civilians is outrageous, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens by the day - weighing heavily on our collective conscience.

"No matter who is in the White House, the U.S. must continue leading diplomatic efforts to secure the release of all hostages, provide humanitarian aid to ameliorate the suffering in Gaza, achieve an end to the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and pursue a two-state solution.

"In these dark days, many people on both sides of this conflict may have given up hope that a two-state solution is possible. The United States bears a special responsibility to stand for that possibility - the only outcome that can bring lasting peace and prosperity to the region. For the sake of Palestinian and Israeli children alike, we must fight for that future."