Warren Joins Baldwin, Kaine, Van Hollen, Colleagues in Calling for Immediate Steps to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza and Protect Civilians
Letter to the President calls for sustained delivery of aid, opening of Kerem Shalom border crossing, and medical attention for civilians injured
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined their colleagues in urging President Biden to work with Israel and international partners to implement a plan that will protect innocent civilian life in Gaza, deliver sustained humanitarian aid, and work toward the long term goals of ending Hamas’s threat, bringing hostages home, and achieving sustainable peace in the region through a two-state solution. In the letter to President Biden, the senators call for the protection of civilians and civilian sites, the opening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing to allow the sustained delivery of basic life essentials, and access to prompt medical attention for civilians injured to help address the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“As you and your administration work with Israel and international partners to secure the release of hostages and respond to the terror attack on Israel, we join you in your urgent call for humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” wrote the senators. “We encourage you to work with international partners to achieve expeditious implementation of a plan for sustained humanitarian aid in Gaza. We hope you’ll join us in encouraging our ally Israel to take immediate steps to help provide critical humanitarian aid to the innocent civilians in Gaza, including re-opening the Kerem Shalom border crossing to allow life-saving water, food, and fuel to reach vulnerable civilians.”
The senators continued, “We are concerned that increased and prolonged suffering in Gaza is not only intolerable for Palestinian civilians there but will also negatively impact the security of Israeli civilians by exacerbating existing tensions and eroding regional alliances.
“This conflict will not be solved by force alone. Preservation of and respect for innocent life is both morally right and the best hope for a long-term strategy to accomplish security, stability, and peace in the region,” the senators concluded.
In addition to Senators Warren, Baldwin, Kaine, and Van Hollen, the letter is also signed by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).
Senator Warren remains committed to establishing lasting peace in Gaza and protecting innocent civilians, including:
- On November 8, 2023, Senator Warren joined the majority of the Democratic Senate Caucus in sending a letter to President Biden, condemning the brutal terror attacks by Hamas, expressing support for immediate funding to replenish Israel’s defensive systems, and seeking information on two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all possible measures to protect civilians in Gaza.
- On November 3, Senators Warren and Markey sent a letter to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the Biden administration to take additional steps to bring Americans and Hamas-held hostages home, as well as providing necessary relief to the millions of innocent Palestinians trapped in Gaza.
- On November 2, Senator Warren and Senator Kaine led 13 of their Senate colleagues in calling for a short-term cessation of hostilities.
- On November 1, Senators Warren, Sanders, Welch, and Merkley sent a letter to President Biden expressing serious concerns about what the invasion and potential occupation of Gaza would mean for the well-being of Palestinian residents and the long-term security of Israel.
- On October 27, Senator Warren released a statement with 9 of her Senate colleagues calling for humanitarian pauses and hostage releases
- On October 19, 2023, Senators Warren and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, led 32 of their Senate colleagues in urging the Biden administration to lead the international community in contributing to the United Nations’ emergency appeal of $294 million to address the immediate humanitarian needs in the West Bank and Gaza.
- On October 18, 2023, Senators Warren, Markey, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) wrote a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urging them to do everything possible to provide assistance to U.S. citizens fleeing the Gaza Strip, including constituents from New England.
###
Next Article Previous Article
