Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen Criticizes Netanyahu for Lack of Humanitarian Action in Gaza
In a recent statement, Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen expressed frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not responding to President Joe Biden’s requests for more humanitarian action in Gaza. Van Hollen highlighted the ongoing campaign against Hamas in Gaza by the Israeli military and raised concerns about the situation for civilians in the region.
Van Hollen called for more assistance to be allowed into Gaza before sending more bombs to Israel, emphasizing the need for a “two-way street” with American taxpayer dollars. He suggested using leverage to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those in need in Gaza.
While the White House has shown increasing frustration with Netanyahu, it has not taken overt steps to pressure him. Van Hollen also mentioned concerns over Israel’s expected invasion of Rafah and urged for operations against Hamas to be conducted with fewer civilian casualties.
Despite not directly calling Netanyahu a war criminal, Van Hollen raised concerns over Israel’s actions in blocking aid into Gaza. A Netanyahu adviser claimed that Israel has sent aid trucks into Gaza, but must ensure that the aid is not stolen by Hamas.
In addition to his comments on Gaza, Van Hollen addressed the partial collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, emphasizing the need to help the city recover and aid the families of the workers believed to have died in the tragedy. The senator also highlighted the contributions and sacrifices of immigrants in the U.S., particularly those working at the port of Baltimore.
Van Hollen mentioned plans to introduce legislation with Sen. Ben Cardin to cover some of the costs of rebuilding the bridge and prioritize opening the port channel for the city’s economy. The Biden administration has not submitted new requests for weapons to Congress and has instead sent already approved packages for Israel.
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