(JNS) Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Israel should be “condemned” for its response to the rioting along the Israeli-Gaza border on Monday that resulted in some 60 Palestinian deaths. In an interview with Al Jazeera reporter Mehdi Hasan for his Intercept podcast, Sanders was asked if he considers Israel’s response to the Gaza protestors as constituting “war crimes.”

“Those are terrible actions,” Sanders said, while stopping short of calling them war crimes. “Instead of applauding Israel for its actions, Israel should be condemned. Israel has a right to security, but shooting unarmed protesters is not what it is about.”

Sanders also tweeted about the situation unfolding in Gaza on Monday, saying Israel has no justification for firing on unarmed protesters.

“Over 50 killed in Gaza today and 2,000 wounded, on top of the 41 killed and more than 9,000 wounded over the past weeks. This is a staggering toll. Hamas violence does not justify Israel firing on unarmed protesters,” stated the senator.