US Sen. Bernie Sanders draw a round of warm applauses after he said that the United States should treat the Palestinian people with respect.

"It is no longer good enough for us simply to be pro-Israel. I am pro-Israel," Sanders said at a Democratic presidential debate. "But we must treat the Palestinian people with the respect and dignity they deserve."

"What is going on in Gaza right now, where youth unemployment is 60, 70 percent, is unsustainable," Sanders added.

The senator's remarks sparked immediate praise from progressives, political activists, and journalists.

The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald said on Twitter that Sanders' answer showed why the senator is unique among the Democratic candidates.

"Is there even a small chance that any candidate other than Sanders would speak so powerfully about the oppression of Palestinians and how it means we need to re-think support for Israel?" asked Greenwald. "I can't think of one."

John Cassidy of The New Yorker noted that Sanders has been a longtime supporter of Palestinian rights.

"Well done Bernie Sanders for bringing up Palestinian rights and the situation in Gaza," said Cassidy. "He's been consistent on it."

"Senator Bernie Sanders just gave the best Israel-Palestine answer ever delivered by a serious contender in an American presidential debate," said The Nation's John Nichols.