ANKARA

Democrat US senators are slamming Israel over the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank, local media reports said Wednesday.

“I think it's way overdue to have Democratic members of Congress speak up and speak out about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza," Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen told online outlet Axios.

Von Hollen also said that he is happy that more Democrats are speaking up against the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We've seen a pattern of impunity from the Netanyahu government – no accountability for these killings – and we've seen a pattern of indifference from the U.S. government," Van Hollen said. "I'm glad more people seem to be paying attention."

Virginia Senator Timothy Michael Kaine also told Axios: "There are times when, to me, it doesn't look like (Netanyahu) is prioritizing the hostage situation.”

Netanyahu has long been accused of dragging out the war for his own political benefit.

Kaine added: "Certainly, there's times when it looks like (Palestinian group) Hamas does not want a deal.”

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin also said on X on Tuesday: “In the West Bank, Israeli settlers beat a Palestinian-American U.S. citizen to death. This totals 5 Americans killed in the West Bank since October 7, 2023 and more than a dozen Palestinians killed by lawless settler violence.”

She added: “It’s hard to understand this lack of accountability by the Netanyahu government as anything other than tacit approval by the state -- something that should be treated as abhorrent by all decent people.”

“This violence has to end. As I saw from my own experience in places like Iraq, democratic governments have responsibilities even when under threat. If President (Donald) Trump and his team truly want a lasting ceasefire (not to mention a Nobel Peace Prize), they need to extract basic humanitarian and law and order standards now.”

Before entering Congress, Slotkin served three tours as a CIA analyst in Iraq.