WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) last night spoke on the Senate floor about the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and the need for the United States to take immediate action. He condemned Hamas, pushed for a ceasefire, and demanded the release of the remaining hostages. Senator Welch also rejected the Netanyahu government’s illegal use of starvation as a weapon of war. 

“We all condemn Hamas. We all want the release of the remaining hostages. But we have to ask ourselves the question: is it at all justifiable that there is a policy that has to be recognized that starvation is being used as a tool of warfare? I reject the legitimacy of that act. It’s a war crime, Mr. President. It’s a war crime to starve a population to get what you want from your enemy, as righteous as your defense against an enemy may be. It’s illegal to starve children to obtain the battlefield advantage. But the Netanyahu government has actually said it’s doing that. My view, Mr. President is that it’s long, long past the time to say enough. Enough. No.
The United States will not stand by as hunger is used as a weapon. We don’t do that,” said Senator Welch.   

Watch Senator Welch’s floor remarks here: 

Read Senator Welch’s remarks as delivered here. 

Senator Welch has been a leading voice in calling for an indefinite ceasefire in Gaza to stop the bombing, prevent further loss of civilian life, extend access to humanitarian relief to those who had been displaced, and continue negotiations to secure hostages.  Earlier this week, Senator Welch joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in leading 19 of their Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump Administration for answers on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators called on the Administration to immediately cease funding for GHF and restore support for existing United Nations aid distribution mechanisms. 

In May, Senator Welch led 46 colleagues on a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to bring an end to the blockade of food and lifesaving humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza. Senate Republicans blocked Senator Welch’s request for unanimous consent to pass his resolution. 

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