Senators in the US call for Marco Rubio to advocate for an increase in humanitarian aid in Gaza

The ongoing crisis in Gaza is a complex issue of access and political will, rather than a matter of funding shortages, according to recent reports. The situation has resulted in a devastating toll on the Palestinian population, with nearly 63,400 deaths since October 2023.

The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported a particularly grim statistic: 332 deaths due to starvation since October 7, 2023, including 124 children. In the past 24 hours alone, ten people, including three children, have died from starvation. Since August 22, 2023, the ministry has recorded 54 additional deaths linked to hunger, including nine children.

The dire conditions in Gaza have not gone unnoticed by international lawmakers. A group of senators, including Ruben Gallego, Peter Welch, Tim Kaine, Mark Kelly, and Elizabeth Warren, have written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the use of American influence to facilitate a massive surge in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

They demand that Israel immediately reopen all crossing points and vastly scale up the amount of aid while expanding access for international organizations throughout Gaza. The senators emphasize that the U.S. and Israel have a moral obligation to address the dire conditions threatening Palestinian families.

The senators are particularly concerned about severe restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid, including infant formula, in Gaza. They have highlighted pallets of baby formula "sitting at the border of Gaza," warning about losing more newborns to starvation.

Israel has kept all Gaza crossings for aid closed since March 2, leaving humanitarian convoys stranded at the borders. This decision comes amidst allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, with Israel facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice on December 29, 2023, accusing Israel of potential genocide under the Genocide Convention. The court found the allegations plausible and issued provisional measures in January 2024 requiring Israel to prevent genocidal acts in the conflict.

The senators are pushing for ceasefire solutions and emphasize the importance of ensuring children are not starving as a fundamental American value. Less than one-fifth of Gaza's humanitarian needs are currently being met, according to local officials. The implementation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation system since late May has resulted in a catastrophic decrease in food supplies and other humanitarian aid.

The crisis in Gaza continues to unfold, with the international community urging action to address the dire humanitarian situation and allegations of war crimes. The senators' call for a surge in humanitarian aid and the reopening of crossing points is a significant step towards alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Senators in the US call for Marco Rubio to advocate for an increase in humanitarian aid in Gaza