Moulton, Houlahan, Ryan, Panetta, Deluzio, Vindman Urge Israel to Expand Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

Washington, DC -- Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), and Eugene Vindman (D-VA) – all U.S. military veterans – sent a letter to Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter expressing “serious concern with the dire humanitarian aid situation in Gaza” and calling on Israel to “flood Gaza with humanitarian aid" to take away the leverage that scarce aid has provided to Hamas. 

The lawmakers write: “As veterans of America’s counterinsurgency campaigns over the last 25 years, we believe Israel has a responsibility and moral obligation to actively prevent harm to civilians, particularly children.” 

“Food scarcity has provided Hamas an opportunity to weaponize aid for profit and control. We urge Israel, instead, to flood Gaza with humanitarian aid. If food is abundant and easily available, it will deny Hamas the ability to use it as an instrument of coercion. Throughout over twenty years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, when we admittedly learned many lessons the hard way, we almost never saw insurgents using food as a weapon because we helped ensure it was always in ample supply. We strongly believe Israel would benefit from adopting a similar strategy especially since it will take away leverage from Hamas.”

They continue: “Not just restoring aid, but providing far more aid than in the past, will show Palestinians that their future is protected not by Hamas but by the international community, and it will help pave the way to a ceasefire that includes the return of remaining hostages and, ultimately, a long-term political solution for lasting peace in the region.”

The full text of the letter is pasted below, and can be accessed HERE.

####

Dear Ambassador Leiter,

As longtime supporters of Israel, we write to express our serious concern with the dire humanitarian aid situation in Gaza and implore Israel to take all available measures to alleviate the human suffering. The growing number of civilians suffering from acute hunger, dehydration, and preventable illnesses is undeniable, and as veterans of America’s counterinsurgency campaigns over the last 25 years, we believe Israel has a responsibility and moral obligation to actively prevent harm to civilians, particularly children.

Recent reporting has shown harrowing scenes of innocent starving children1 and desperate crowds swarming aid trucks, which has prompted President Trump to voice his concerns2 and call on Israel to allow the flow of aid into Gaza. We are encouraged to see reports of Israel allowing in additional aid in recent days. We believe this is a step in the right direction that should be expanded.

Food scarcity has provided Hamas an opportunity to weaponize aid for profit and control. We urge Israel, instead, to flood Gaza with humanitarian aid. If food is abundant and easily available, it will deny Hamas the ability to use it as an instrument of coercion. Throughout over twenty years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, when we admittedly learned many lessons the hard way, we almost never saw insurgents using food as a weapon because we helped ensure it was always in ample supply. We strongly believe Israel would benefit from adopting a similar strategy especially since it will take away leverage from Hamas.

 We remain steadfast in our support of Israel’s right to defend itself and want Israel to defeat Hamas. Hamas’s barbaric acts started this conflict and continue to further the plight of the Palestinians. We are also united in our shared commitment to respect civilian life and the laws of armed conflict, two values Hamas violates daily. Not just restoring aid, but providing far more aid than in the past, will show Palestinians that their future is protected not by Hamas but by the international community, and it will help pave the way to a ceasefire that includes the return of remaining hostages and, ultimately, a long-term political solution for lasting peace in the region.

 Thank you for your leadership, and we welcome continued dialogue and cooperation on this matter.