After Vermont U.S. Senator Peter Welch met with Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, in his office on June 4, he issued the following statement:
“Today, I had a frank and open conversation with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter. I emphasized my support for the Israeli people and for a secure, democratic State of Israel. I also stressed that America expects Israel to take all necessary steps to provide access to food, humanitarian aid, and medical supplies to suffering Palestinians in Gaza.
“We all agree that Hamas’ attack was evil. Hamas’ continued use of hostages to inflict pain and deep emotional suffering is evil, and we must bring the remaining hostages home. Not a single Vermonter or American I’ve met disputes that. At the same time, we must firmly reject even the implicit acceptance of restricting access to food, water, and medicine as a weapon of war.
“Aid distribution has been slowed and blocked by Israel. Over the past several days, Palestinians have been killed and injured at distribution sites. The Israeli government continues to block access for the world’s humanitarian organizations. These organizations stand ready to immediately surge food and medicine into Gaza to keep two million Palestinian civilians—including the elderly, cancer patients, those requiring dialysis, and vulnerable children—alive.
“Israel must urgently act to help Palestinians in-need—this is an emergency.”
In addition to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, Sen. Welch asked Ambassador Leiter for an update on Israel’s investigations into shootings of American citizens, including Dylan Collins, a Vermonter and video journalist with the AFP news agency who was wounded by the Israeli Defense Forces while reporting in Southern Lebanon. Five fellow journalists and colleagues were hurt, and one died in the attack, which violated U.S. and international law.
According to the press release, Senator Welch recently led a Senate Resolution, sponsored by 45 colleagues, which called for the delivery of lifesaving food and humanitarian aid for starving children in Gaza. Senate Republicans blocked passage of the resolution.
