There is no possible circumstance in which the intentional starvation of innocent people can be countenanced. That is why Senator Welch and his cosponsors introduced Senate Resolution 224, in which the U.S. Senate recognizes the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and “calls on the White House, Department of State, and other relevant United States Government agencies to urgently use all available diplomatic tools to bring about the release of the hostages, an immediate cessation of the blockade on food and emergency aid for Palestinian civilians, and a durable end to the conflict in Gaza. These do not seem like requests that any reasonable human being could object to, which is why I am writing to you to co-sponsor this Resolution.
Since March 2nd, Israel has enforced a total blockade in Gaza, denying millions of Palestinians access to the very means of survival. International experts now warn that thousands of Palestinians are facing catastrophic levels of hunger, and another half a million are on the brink of starvation. This is not a natural disaster. This is manmade. It is the deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war, a practice unequivocally banned under international law.
This resolution is narrowly and deliberately focused on the blockade and its devastating humanitarian toll. That’s why it has already drawn support from a growing and diverse group of co-sponsors, including Senators Booker (D-NJ) and Slotkin (D-MI). It is a clear and moral stand, unclouded by politics.
Why you should co-sponsor it now:
A Stand for American Values: President Franklin D. Roosevelt named "freedom from want" as one of the four essential human freedoms. Today, that freedom is under siege. Remaining silent in the face of mass starvation contradicts everything this nation has stood for as a beacon of humanitarian leadership and moral clarity.
A Move in America’s Interest: The longer America is perceived as complicit—or worse, indifferent—the more we damage our credibility, our alliances, and our own national security. The world is watching. Senate support for this Resolution may assist in encouraging Israel to end the blockade, whose cessation would also remove a global driver of anger against the United States for its complicity in Israel’s inhumane approach to Gaza.
We are at a breaking point. Every hour, this crisis deepens. Lives are being lost while the world debates. I, along with A New Policy, am asking you to act with moral courage and urgency. I implore you to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 224 and press the White House to help end this blockade before more lives are destroyed. Thanks.
First sent on May 21 by Jess Craven
