Moulton Statement on the Hunger Crisis in Gaza

WASHINGTON— Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) made the following statement:

“What’s happening in Gaza right now is an avoidable human tragedy. Access to food, water, shelter, and medical care is a basic human right, and it’s a moral imperative for the Netanyahu government to alleviate this suffering. Hamas bears primary responsibility, but Israel has the ability and the obligation to help.

I want Israel to succeed in defeating Hamas and bringing the hostages home. But that won’t happen if its policies undermine its own mission, and you cannot win a war against terror by allowing civilians to starve. I fought in a counterinsurgency in Iraq. We knew then that protecting civilian lives was more than a moral responsibility—it was a tactical and strategic imperative. We worked to build trust with local communities and present an alternative to the insurgents, not fuel the next generation of extremists.

Last week, I told the Israeli ambassador directly: what’s happening in Gaza is unacceptable. While Netanyahu has tried to deny the severity of the crisis, thankfully, it seems the Israeli government is now beginning to reverse course. We need lasting change. Israel should flood Gaza with aid, denying Hamas the leverage to control and profit from a scarce resource.

Criticizing the Israeli government’s policy is not the same as opposing Israel’s right to exist or defend itself. Friends tell each other hard truths and hold each other accountable to our shared values and goals. This hunger crisis is a humanitarian failure. It is counterproductive to Israel’s long-term security and to lasting peace in the region.”