US MILITARY aid to Israel should instead go towards humanitarian relief in Gaza, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said on Monday. 

The 2020 hopeful proposed that part of the annual $3.8 billion (£2.96 billion) funding to Israel should be directed to aid, with the rest given on condition of taking steps to reach a two-state solution. 

Mr Sanders pledged to use the funding as leverage to get Israel to halt settlements on Palestinian land and start peace negotiations during a conference by pro-Israel and pro-two state solution advocates.