DeLauro Statement on Surging Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement on the urgent necessity of increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza following the ceasefire agreement and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas:

"The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of the remaining Israeli hostages have set the stage for peace. Now it is time for a coordinated, international humanitarian effort in Gaza, with the goals of first saving the lives of nearly 2 million Gazans suffering from extreme hunger with a massive surge in food and medicine, and then supporting long-term rebuilding efforts with construction supplies and infrastructure support. The Gaza Strip has been nearly leveled by two years of war, and countless Palestinian families will be returning home with nothing but what they could carry-it will be essential to rebuild not just family homes, but schools, hospitals, and businesses, as well as all of the necessary sanitation infrastructure and utilities to sustain society.

"This is the time to begin rebuilding lives, rebuilding a society, and rebuilding trust. It must be led by trusted, experienced, and capable organizations, including the United Nations and UNWRA, that have the expertise and resources to support a difficult and extended reconstruction effort. The Israeli government must remove all roadblocks for the delivery of aid in a timely manner. I will continue to call for increasing our humanitarian efforts in Gaza, and urge President Trump to use all diplomatic means to continue progress on negotiations for long-term peace."

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delauro.house.gov