Democratic Senator Calls for Consequences on Israel to Allow Greater Aid into Gaza
On Sunday, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called for “consequences” on Israel in an effort to reduce civilian deaths and allow greater humanitarian aid into Gaza. Van Hollen, who recently visited the Middle East with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), expressed concern over the difficulty of getting humanitarian aid into Gaza and suggested it was a result of political decisions by the Netanyahu coalition.
During an appearance on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” Van Hollen emphasized the need for a reduction in civilian casualties and more cooperation in providing humanitarian assistance. He described the process of getting aid into Gaza as “unnecessarily cumbersome,” citing instances where trucks with aid were turned away at the Rafah border crossing and water filtration systems were rejected by Israeli authorities.
Van Hollen’s remarks come amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas, which has resulted in a high number of civilian casualties. The Gaza Health Ministry, run by Hamas, reported that at least 22,835 people have been killed in the coastal enclave since early October.
The United States has been increasing pressure on Israel to allow greater amounts of aid to travel into the region while asserting Israel’s right to defend itself. The Biden administration has also urged Israel to scale down the war and be more mindful of civilian deaths.
Last month, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution to scale up assistance to the Gaza Strip, a move that saw the U.S. neither voting in favor nor blocking the resolution. In a separate development, Israel opened its Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, creating a second entry point for aid.
Van Hollen’s remarks reflect growing concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need for greater access to aid. As the conflict persists, calls for actions to reduce civilian casualties and ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance continue to mount.