Jewish Democratic senators lead pressure on Trump to address Gaza crisis
A group of prominent Jewish Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and Sen. Adam Schiff (Calif.), are leading an effort to press the Trump administration to secure a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and address what they called a “humanitarian crisis."
The push comes amid reports that Palestinians are dying from malnutrition in the war-torn enclave.
Schumer, Schiff, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the chief deputy Democratic whip, and Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), spearheaded a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff warning that situation in Gaza is “unsustainable and worsens by the day” and that “hunger and malnutrition are widespread,” leading to deaths from starvation, especially among children.”
They are among 40 Senate Democrats who signed the letter, including Sens. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Michael Bennet (Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Chris Coons (Del.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Chris Murphy (Conn.).
The Democratic senators wrote that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the American non-profit organization established to distribute food aid in Gaza, “has failed to address the deepening humanitarian crisis and contributed to an unacceptable and mounting civilian death toll around the organization’s sites.”
The United Nations’ human rights office reported recently that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while trying to pick up food supplies at the official distribution sites.
The Democratic lawmakers are calling on the Trump administration to push for a “large-scale expansion” of humanitarian assistance and services throughout Gaza and to use “experienced multilateral bodies and NGOs” to distribute the aid.
They also reiterated their views that “a permanent end to this war will also require an end to Hamas rule in Gaza and ensuring that Hamas can no longer pose a serious military threat to Israel.”
The group reaffirmed their support for U.S.-led diplomacy with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in pursuit of “the long-term goal of a negotiated two-state solution with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in lasting peace, security, dignity and mutual recognition.”
The Democrats expressed “strong opposition” to the permanent forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, warning that “would be antithetical to international humanitarian law” and a “sustainable end to this war that prioritizes the long-term safety and security of Israelis and Palestinians.”
And they voiced strong support of diplomatic efforts to return all hostages held by Hamas and the return of remains of those presumed dead, including Americans Omer Neutra and Itay Chen, to their families and loved ones.