Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday for ignoring President Joe Biden’s requests for increased humanitarian efforts in Gaza amid the ongoing war with Hamas. Speaking on ABC News, Van Hollen emphasized that Biden “needs to back up his ‘no excuses’ talk with real action.”
Van Hollen accused Netanyahu of continuing to disregard pleas from the President of the United States while additional bombs are being sent to Israel, calling it illogical. The senator, who has been a vocal supporter of reevaluating the shipment of offensive weapons to Israel due to concerns over the civilian situation in Gaza and Israel’s anticipated invasion of Rafah, stated, “In my view, until Netanyahu’s government allows for more aid in Gaza and to help people who are literally starving to death, we should not send more bombs.”
Biden and other U.S. officials have expressed increasing frustration with Netanyahu and the Israeli military’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza, especially given the rising overall death toll. Since the Hamas attack on October 7 that ignited the war, more than 32,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry there. Despite speaking about the Palestinians killed in the war and warning of “consequences” if the Israelis move into Rafah without a plan for civilians, the White House has so far refused to condition military aid or take other public steps to pressure Netanyahu.
Van Hollen believes there should be consequences, advocating for a “two-way street, not a blank check in one direction with American taxpayers’ dollars.”
The recent situation in Gaza has been described as dire, with the latest data indicating significant casualties and infrastructure damage due to Israeli attacks. As of March 31, the death toll includes 33,237 Palestinians and 1,139 Israelis since October 7. Gaza’s healthcare system is facing a “catastrophic” shortage of medical supplies, with hospitals running on external generators and at risk of shutting down. The WHO has documented attacks on healthcare facilities, leading to direct damage and the deaths of health workers. Additionally, food and water scarcity has worsened, with nearly half a million people unable to access food rations and drinking water becoming more scarce. The World Food Programme is waiting to deliver emergency assistance to families in Gaza. The ongoing blockade and destruction have exacerbated the already critical humanitarian situation in Gaza
