Senators reject Trump plan of forced displacement and U.S. occupation of Gaza
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) returned to the United States today after joining a bipartisan congressional delegation to Israel in a show of support for freeing the hostages taken prisoner by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the continuation of the regional peace framework. Monday marked the 500th day since the brutal October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas.
“Our bipartisan delegation came to Israel to show support for our ally’s effort to zero out the continued risk of another Hamas attack, and for building upon the important ceasefire framework that was painstakingly negotiated,” said Whitehouse. “Deconflicting those two goals will be the key to the region’s success, and to the promise of a peaceful two-state solution.”
While in Israel, the delegation met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other high-ranking Israeli officials, families of American-Israeli citizens taken hostage by Hamas, and representatives of the World Food Programme. The delegation also toured an exhibit about the October 7 terrorist attacks at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem.
“I stand with my colleagues in calling for the immediate release of the many individuals who have been held hostage by Hamas for the past 500 days. We also relayed to the Israeli government that President Trump’s plan to forcibly displace millions of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and occupy the enclave with U.S. forces is a total non-starter and a risk to lasting peace,” added Whitehouse.
The delegation, which departed for Israel from the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, was led by U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK). U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) also joined the Israel leg of the trip.
