‘That’s A War Crime’: Senator Condemns Israel for Blocking Gaza Aid
Palestinian civilians facing famine, rampant disease
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu essentially is giving “the finger to the president of the United States,” and it’s time for President Biden to do more to ensure that humanitarian relief reaches Palestinians suffering in Gaza.
That’s according to Sen Chris Van Hollen (D-Md).
The civilian population of Gaza has been plunged into crisis since the Israeli military began its operations in the enclave following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
At least 75 percent of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents have been displaced, and that displacement itself has led to immense challenges for the population and the humanitarian response in terms of shelter, food, sanitation, and health, according to the United Nations.
The entire population of Gaza is at dire levels of acute food insecurity, with hundreds of thousands facing crisis levels of hunger.
And diseases associated with overcrowding, poor sanitation, and malnutrition like hepatitis A, diarrhea in children, and respiratory infections are rampant.
Meanwhile, Israel’s right-wing government continues to block humanitarian aid into Gaza.
“There’s no doubt that blocking aid into Gaza is a violation of international humanitarian law,” said Van Hollen. “With respect to certain individuals in the Netanyahu government, people like Finance Minister Smotrich and [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir, who have not only said they want to block aid into Gaza but have taken steps to block aid into Gaza, that is a war crime.”
Speaking in an on-camera interview with ABC News Sunday, Van Hollen dodged a question whether Netanyahu, himself, is a war criminal, saying that’s a determination for the future.
“But in the meantime, let’s just get more assistance to starving people in Gaza. You know, one-third of the shipments of the humanitarian assistance into northern Gaza have been blocked in the last month,” he said. “You could open the Erez Crossing in the north and get more assistance in right now. I mean, kids starve to death.
“So, I’m just saying to President Biden, ‘You said no excuses when it comes to getting humanitarian aid into Gaza,’” Van Hollen said. “Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to drag his feet. So, instead of just sending more bombs without in turn getting the request that you want, Mr. President, let’s at least make this a partnership.”
Van Hollen said that, while he supports Biden and wants the president to win reelection this fall, it’s time for him to take stronger action related to Israel.
“I certainly want President Biden to win. The future of our democracy depends on it, the future of democracies around the world depend on it. This is a case where just doing the right thing would also result in a better electoral outcome,” he said. “In other words, yes, support Israel’s right to defend itself. I’m all in on that. I’ve been that way, all in, from the beginning.
“But reasonable requests like preventing people from starving, I mean, 2 million Palestinians who have nothing to do with Hamas, and the president needs to back up his no-excuses language with real action,” Van Hollen added. “And just providing a blank check, providing more bombs without getting assurances now about Rafah and not making this humanitarian disaster even worse, and doing simple things right now to help people who are starving to death in Gaza, those seem to be simple requests.
“We have a situation where Netanyahu continues to essentially, you know, give the finger to the president of the United States, and we’re sending more bombs. That doesn’t make sense,” he said.
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