Letter urges continued diplomatic negotiations until mutual ceasefire is restored to release hostages and address dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and 24 of his Senate colleagues sent a letter to President Biden in support of ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Hamas-held hostages in tandem with the restoration of a mutual ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
“We recognize that it is in Israel’s vital national interest that Hamas — a brutal terrorist organization — be removed from power in Gaza. We continue to support Israel’s pursuit of that objective,” the senators wrote. “We also recognize that without a break in the fighting, humanitarian conditions for civilians in Gaza will become even more catastrophic and thousands more innocents — including many children — will die.”
The senators continue: “In our judgment, it is in our urgent national interest – and the urgent humanitarian interest of millions of innocent civilians — that these negotiations succeed.”
In November, Hickenlooper called for a humanitarian pause in Gaza. A few weeks later, an agreement for a seven-day temporary ceasefire brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt led to the release of 105 hostages and for vital humanitarian aid to reach the nearly two million Gazan civilians displaced by the war.
The letter was led by U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, and joined by Hickenlooper and U.S. Senators Mark Warner, Jack Reed, Patty Murray, Dick Durbin, Jeanne Shaheen, Jeff Merkley, Michael Bennet, Tammy Baldwin, Chris Murphy, Mazie Hirono, Martin Heinrich, Angus King, Tim Kaine, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Cory Booker, Chris Van Hollen, Tammy Duckworth, Tina Smith, Mark Kelly, Ben Ray Lujan, and Peter Welch.
Hickenlooper has also called for specific steps to save civilian lives in Gaza, including pushing for immediate access to humanitarian aid, including food, water, and medical supplies, the delivery of lifesaving fuel to hospitals and water treatment facilities, or funding to meet the United Nation’s $294 million emergency appeal.
For the full letter, click HERE or see below:
Dear Mr. President,
Since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, in which Hamas abducted more than 200 civilians — including babies, young children, and the elderly — the United States has played a vital leading role in efforts to secure the release of Americans and Israelis held in Gaza.
U.S. diplomacy has also been essential to efforts to facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid and to reaching a pause in hostilities in November of last year.
On November 24th, an agreement brokered with your leadership by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt secured the release of 105 hostages — all women and children — in tandem with a seven-day ceasefire. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas provided a vital window for humanitarian aid to reach nearly two million Gazan civilians displaced by the war, while the return to safety of those hostages — including a four-year-old American girl, Abigail Idan — gave hope to the families of others abducted by Hamas that strong U.S.-led diplomacy could secure their freedom.
Now 130 days since the October 7th massacre, two million Gazan civilians remain displaced in extreme danger and deprivation while hostages held by Hamas remain in life-threatening captivity.
We therefore write to express our urgent support for your Administration’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages in tandem with a restored mutual ceasefire in Gaza.
We recognize that such a diplomatic achievement will require the agreement of the warring parties, and that its terms remain under negotiation. In our judgment, it is in our urgent national interest – and the urgent humanitarian interest of millions of innocent civilians — that these negotiations succeed.
We recognize that it is in Israel’s vital national interest that Hamas — a brutal terrorist organization — be removed from power in Gaza. We continue to support Israel’s pursuit of that objective.
We also recognize that without a break in the fighting, humanitarian conditions for civilians in Gaza will become even more catastrophic and thousands more innocents — including many children — will die.
Without an agreement that secures their release, the prospects are dim for the survival of hostages who remain alive.
Without the space created for regional diplomacy by a restored ceasefire, the political conditions for durable peace and security will remain unreachable, and escalating regional conflict will continue to threaten U.S. national security.
Sincerely,
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