WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) in sending a letter to Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, on the imperative of urgently providing humanitarian aid in Gaza. The letter highlights specific steps that Ambassador Herzog and the Israeli government should take to ensure that aid reaches Gaza and to protect aid workers.
“Since October 7, nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Israel’s counterattack on Gaza. While many were Hamas terrorists, a significant number were innocent civilians. Further, at least 1.7 million Palestinians have been internally displaced in Gaza. They have need for clean water, food, medical support, and humanitarian aid. Starvation and widespread disease in Gaza are imminent,” wrote the four U.S. Senators.
“We believe that the future path to peace, security and stability will be enhanced dramatically by facilitating the delivery of essentials for survival to the Palestinian people whose fate is imperiled,” the Senators conclude.
The letter outlines four actions Israel should take to accelerate aid delivery into Gaza and assist the safety of aid workers, including:
- Improving deconfliction mechanisms;
- Establishing sufficient humanitarian aid access points into Gaza;
- Planning for a restoration of Gaza’s critical infrastructure; and
- Expanding delivery of humanitarian aid.
Text of the letter follows:
Dear Ambassador Herzog:
We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ barbaric attack on Israel October 7, 2023, and hope that all the hostages return home safely. We support Israel’s right and obligation to pursue the Hamas terrorists who planned and carried out the October 7 attack and deem the prospect of Hamas retaining military control of Gaza unacceptable.
We also believe, there is an urgent need to provide humanitarian aid for innocent Palestinians. Since October 7, nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Israel’s counterattack on Gaza. While many were Hamas terrorists, a significant number were innocent civilians. Further, at least 1.7 million Palestinians have been internally displaced in Gaza. They have need for clean water, food, medical support, and humanitarian aid. Starvation and widespread disease in Gaza are imminent.
There are concrete and realistic steps Israel can take to accelerate aid delivery and safety for aid workers.
We urge you to take the following actions:
- Improve deconfliction mechanisms. Civil military deconfliction mechanisms must be strengthened to protect civilians and aid workers, and to facilitate humanitarian assistance. All Israeli military and government elements must communicate with each other—and with international organizations attempting to deliver aid into Gaza—transparently and in real time.
- Establish Sufficient Humanitarian Aid Access Points into Gaza. Open Erez Crossing and Ashdod Port for mass delivery of humanitarian aid via a land corridor from Jordan
- into Gaza. Extend operating hours at Israel’s Nitzana Screening Facility and the Karem Shalom Crossing to 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
- Plan to Restore Gaza’s Critical Infrastructure. Plan for how to repair damaged water supply lines, reconnect electricity, repair communications infrastructure, and allow entry of sufficient fuel to power to operate critical infrastructure facilities after the conflict.
- Expanded Delivery of Humanitarian Aid. Allow expeditious entry for items not prohibited on the ‘dual-use’ list, which should be shared with international organizations. Restore commercial sector access for aid agencies and residents purchasing food and other supplies.
We believe that the future path to peace, security and stability will be enhanced dramatically by facilitating the delivery of essentials for survival to the Palestinian people whose fate is imperiled.
Sincerely,
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