DaysofPal- A growing chorus of voices in the United States is urging Israel to lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip and allow urgently needed humanitarian aid to reach the besieged population.
At least 94 House Democrats have signed a letter calling on Israel to change its policy, warning that the blockade is not only causing immense human suffering but is also “strategically counterproductive.”
In their letter, addressed to Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the lawmakers wrote:
“As supporters of a strong US-Israel relationship, we write to express our opposition to the current Israeli government policy to block all humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip. In addition to the harm imposed on Palestinian civilians, it is strategically counterproductive and will only hurt Israel’s international standing and long-term security.
While we share concerns about Hamas diverting humanitarian assistance, we encourage your government to work with the United States, alongside humanitarian organizations, to do everything possible to minimize the risk of diverted resources without harming civilians.”
The bipartisan appeal underscores mounting concern within the U.S. political establishment over Israel’s handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over two million Palestinians are now almost entirely reliant on aid for survival.
In a parallel development, six U.S. senators, five Democrats and one independent, have called for a formal investigation into whether Israel’s actions violate U.S. law.
Senators Chris Van Hollen, Dick Durbin, Jeff Merkley, Elizabeth Warren, Peter Welch, and independent Senator Bernie Sanders submitted a letter on Monday to Jane Doodaro, head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan federal watchdog.
The senators asked the Comptroller General to examine the U.S. government’s compliance with legal statutes governing foreign aid, citing specific provisions such as Section 620i of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Leahy Laws. These laws prohibit assisting countries that obstruct humanitarian aid or commit human rights violations.
“Governmental and non-governmental entities are imposing direct and indirect restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid, such as food, medical equipment, and water purification systems, in several areas, including Gaza,” the letter stated.
The senators emphasized the severity of the situation in Gaza, noting that since March 2, Israel has blocked aid from entering the territory, where a population of approximately 2.3 million is almost entirely dependent on international assistance to meet their basic needs.
The international community is also stepping up calls for urgent action. A coalition of 113 human rights networks and organizations around the world issued an urgent appeal on Wednesday in three languages, demanding that the UN Security Council impose sanctions on Israel.
The appeal calls for a halt to what the organizations describe as the “crime of genocide” and the use of starvation as a weapon of war, urging the Security Council to “take immediate action to save lives and lift the blockade completely.”
According to the United Nations and Palestinian representatives at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Israel’s practices in Gaza constitute violations of international law.
Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip has already resulted in over 52,000 Palestinian deaths, most of them civilians, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The offensive has also caused widespread destruction to infrastructure and services.
Concerns escalated further in recent days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government approved plans for a broad military offensive aimed at gaining full control of the Gaza Strip and preventing humanitarian aid from entering.
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