Senator Bernie Sanders has urged the incoming Democratic majority in Congress to make ending the US war on Iran and halting funding to Israel its top priorities, just days after Democrats won the midterm elections.

In a video address on Thursday, the Vermont independent, who caucuses with the Democrats, accused President Donald Trump of dragging the country into an illegal and unconstitutional war that will cost hundreds of billions of dollars. “We must end this disastrous war,” Sanders said.

Turning to Gaza, he said Democrats should cut off all funding to the Israeli government, which he described as genocidal, and substantially reduce military spending. Sanders was the first US senator to describe Israel’s assault on Gaza as a genocide, a position he took last year.

His call comes as Democrats prepare to take power in January, after winning the House in Tuesday’s vote. An Associated Press tally shows their biggest midterm majority since 2008, with counting still going on in some races. Trump remains in office and keeps his veto power.

Sanders has pushed on both fronts for months without success. In April, the Senate rejected a resolution to halt the Iran war by 47 votes to 52, and it also blocked his bid to stop arms sales to Israel, though more Democrats backed those efforts than in earlier votes.

He has also said he would not support the $200 billion in extra war funding that the Pentagon has pushed for.