Sherrill Statement on the Widespread Famine in Gaza and the Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
Washington, D.C. — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) today issued the following statement urging President Trump and the Israeli government to take immediate action to ensure that aid reaches innocent civilians in Gaza:
“I am deeply concerned by the famine and perilous security situation in Gaza. In February 2024, I went to the Rafah Crossing in Egypt and saw the backlog of aid trucks being kept out of Gaza. I took my concerns about keeping aid from reaching civilians directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Biden. Restricting life saving aid from reaching civilians was as dangerous then as it is today. Failure to take immediate action now will lead to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, and the perpetuation of the war.
“I was encouraged to see the announcement earlier this week that increased humanitarian aid would be allowed to enter Gaza, but it is not enough. The previous system of distributing aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was ineffective and directly led to the deaths of civilians at aid sites within days of beginning the operation. It needlessly endangered civilian lives. I immediately called on President Trump to work with the Israeli government and humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza to develop a safer method of delivery aid, but no action was taken.
“It is unacceptable that Hamas walked away from the last round of ceasefire negotiations and rejected the proposal agreed to by Israel, the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar. I again urge both parties to return to the negotiating table immediately to reach a ceasefire and bring the hostages home. But that alone will not lead to the end of this conflict. For that to happen, the human suffering must end.
"It is past time that President Trump stands up for American values and works with the Israeli government to ensure that aid reaches the innocent civilians who desperately need it. Limiting the delivery of aid has only allowed Hamas and criminal gangs to exploit the situation. Ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is vital to maintaining America’s values, weakening Hamas’s support, and permanently ending the conflict.”
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