WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) 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 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.  

Read and download the full text of the letter here. 

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