US senator urges Israel to allow urgent humanitarian aid into Gaza

US Sen. Brian Schatz on Tuesday urged Israel to immediately permit rescue equipment, construction materials, and winter supplies to enter Gaza after deadly flooding hit thousands of Palestinians, according to Anadolu.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Schatz said that heavy rainfall over the weekend inundated more than 70,000 tents in Gaza, causing four deaths—including three children and a woman.

“Nearly everyone in the area needs help. This is a humanitarian emergency unfolding in real time, and the Israeli government’s ongoing blockade of fuel as well as the destruction of equipment has made delivering aid extremely difficult. This is not a partisan accusation,” Schatz said.

He also cited criticism from US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, which labeled the Israeli government’s response as “insufficient.”

According to Schatz, the board noted that delays had exacerbated what was a foreseeable humanitarian crisis.

“Winter is just beginning in Gaza, and conditions will deteriorate without swift intervention. The Israeli government must immediately allow rescue equipment, building materials, and winter supplies into Gaza,” the senator added.

Schatz emphasized that disagreements over the broader Israeli‑Palestinian conflict should not hinder the relief effort for civilians.

He highlighted the plight of children exposed to freezing temperatures and families whose homes were damaged by the heavy rains.

“We don’t need to resolve every dispute before we help these people. We should help them because they are human beings,” he said.

Source link