Schatz calls on Israeli government to immediately allow winter supplies into Gaza following floods

US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, renewed calls for the Israeli government to immediately allow winter supplies and building materials into Gaza after floods destroyed more than 70,000 tents in the area this past weekend.

“This is a humanitarian emergency unfolding in real time. And the Israeli government’s ongoing blockade of fuel and destruction of equipment has made getting help to people much more difficult,” said Schatz in a speech on the Senate floor.

Schatz said winter is just beginning in Gaza, and warns that the situation will get worse without urgent action. “The Israeli government must immediately allow rescue equipment, building materials, and winter supplies into Gaza. The suffering happening right now – among women, and children, and families who’ve had their lives turned upside down again and again – is not inevitable,” he said.

A transcript of Senator Schatz’s remarks is below.

“Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced yet again after heavy rain flooded more than 70,000 tents in Gaza this weekend. 4 people, including 3 children and one woman, are dead. 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 and destruction of equipment has made getting help to people much more difficult. That’s not a partisan accusation. Even the president’s Board of Peace called the Israeli government’s response “insufficient,” adding that “Delays…have exacerbated the consequences of a foreseeable humanitarian challenge.” This isn’t from me. This isn’t from the Democrats. This is from the president’s Board of Peace.

“Winter is just beginning in Gaza, and things will get worse without urgent action. The Israeli government must immediately allow rescue equipment, building materials, and winter supplies into Gaza. The suffering happening right now – among women, and children, and families who’ve had their lives turned upside down again and again – is not inevitable. These people need and deserve help because they are people.

“There are a lot of challenges when it comes to Israel and Palestine that are complicated and fraught and contentious. But we should all be able to agree that repairing torn tents and helping people dry out and providing warmth to freezing children is a basic human obligation. We don’t need to agree about everything else before we help these people. We should help them simply because they are people.”