The escalation of condemnation of Netanyahu's plan to reoccupy Gaza in the United States.

Over the weekend in the United States, there was a noticeable increase in the intensity of condemnation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza, forcibly displace its residents, and ethnically cleanse it, both politically and publicly.

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders (from Vermont) posted a note on platform X on Friday stating: "Biden is wrong in his support for Israel's war on Gaza. But Trump is worse (than Biden). The American people - Democrats, Republicans, and Independents - do not want to continue spending billions of taxpayer dollars to starve Gazan children."

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland also tweeted on platform X: "Netanyahu's plan for the reoccupation of Gaza is fundamental to achieving the far-right's goal of controlling Gaza and the West Bank and forcing Palestinians to flee. Meanwhile, Trump makes us an active party in this process. American taxpayers should not fund what amounts to ethnic cleansing under another name."

Matt Duss, the executive vice president of the "Center for International Policy," told Common Dreams on Friday: "American support for Israel's control over Gaza acknowledges that Trump, like Biden before him, lacks the real will to pressure Netanyahu to end the war," adding: "There was a ceasefire agreement that Netanyahu violated in March. The United States must push him to return to that agreement."

During the past week, Trump and members of his administration showed clear indifference when asked about Netanyahu's stated goal of complete military control over the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by nearly two years of U.S.-backed Israeli bombing and ground operations.

When asked by a journalist about Netanyahu's plan to fully occupy Gaza, Trump said: "As for the other matters, I can't say. That's largely up to Israel."

Jewish groups in North America, including prominent pro-Israel organizations, issued statements on Friday warning against a new Israeli plan to expand military operations in Gaza.

The American Jewish Committee, a leading mainstream American Jewish organization and one of the most important arms of the Israeli lobby in the United States, expressed concern about the Israeli government's plan for military takeover of the city of Gaza.

The World Organization for Advocating Israel stated: "The grave risks posed by the complete military takeover of the city of Gaza cannot be ignored. The American Jewish Committee (AJC) shares the deep concern expressed by many Israelis, hostage families, and Israeli military leaders that the Israeli security cabinet's decision to proceed with the complete military takeover of the city of Gaza may endanger the lives of remaining hostages and could lead to heavy casualties among both Israeli soldiers and Palestinian civilians."

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) noted that member states of the Arab League and the European Union, along with other sponsoring parties, issued a statement last week stating that "in the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and surrender its weapons."

In its statement, the American Jewish Committee said: "In coordination with the United States, we call on these countries to exert maximum pressure on Hamas to agree to release the hostages and a ceasefire, a step that would bring us closer to ending the war, ensure Israel's security, create a future for the Palestinian people free from Hamas, and achieve the same goals outlined in the statement."

The "Reform Movement," the largest Jewish denomination in the United States, expressed its "deep sadness" over the Israeli government's decision to expand its control over the Gaza Strip. The movement stated: "As Jews who believe that Israel aspires to be safe and ethical, we are encouraged by the position of an increasing number of Israeli military, intelligence, and political leaders, as well as the clear majority of the Israeli public, who warn that the Israeli government's plan to continue occupying Gaza will be a military, political, and humanitarian disaster," according to the movement's statement.

They also urged Israel "to choose life for our hostages, soldiers, and innocent civilians in Gaza by ending this war - not extending it." The statement warned that the expansion of the war would likely be a "death sentence" for the remaining hostages in Gaza. It added: "This is likely to cause more deaths and injuries to IDF soldiers, who are already suffering physically and psychologically, and to civilians trapped in Gaza." This is likely to mean more economic challenges and division within Israel, more division among Jews worldwide, and more isolation for Israel on the international stage.

The movement stated: "It is hard