“Sen. Bernie Sanders describes war in Gaza as ‘genocide’ for the first time.”

Multiple independent and reliable sources from September 17, 2025, confirm that Senator Bernie Sanders explicitly labeled the ongoing conflict in Gaza as 'genocide' for the first time. This includes his own statement on social media (X), where he said, "Yes, the war in Gaza is a genocide," and linked to an op-ed elaborating his position. Major news outlets such as Politico, Axios, The Hill, and New York Magazine reported on this development, quoting Sanders' clear language accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

The phrase "for the first time" is supported by the timeline and context provided by these sources, which note this as a new characterization by Sanders compared to his previous statements. Some earlier commentary from April 2025 ( and ) discusses Sanders' stance on Gaza but does not show him using the term "genocide" explicitly until this recent statement. The consistency across multiple reputable sources and direct quotes from Sanders himself provide strong evidence for the claim's accuracy.mltoday.commltoday.comHow Bernie Sanders Condemns Genocide in Gaza without Actually Condemning Itpresstv.irpresstv.irHow Bernie Sanders condemns genocide in Gaza without actually condemning it