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Durbin, other senators urge immediate humanitarian access to Gaza; Rubio says U.S. pressed Israel to increase aid flows
Summary
Sen. Dick Durbin and other senators raised alarms about an unfolding humanitarian emergency in Gaza; Secretary Rubio said the U.S. is pressing Israel to allow more humanitarian aid and that agencies on the ground (including the World Food Programme) could distribute supplies quickly if flows resume.
Sen. Richard J. Durbin warned the Senate subcommittee that a famine is underway in Gaza, citing figures that "in the next few days" as many as 14,000 infants and children could die. Durbin urged the administration to press Israel to increase humanitarian access and to restore large-scale aid flows.
Secretary Marco Rubio said the United States is engaged with Israeli officials and with partners such as the World Food Programme and that he was assured by Cindy McCain (in her capacity with the WFP) that distribution systems exist and could move supplies rapidly if access were expanded. Rubio said he believed aid flows would increase over the next few days and weeks and repeated that the United States wants to see sufficient humanitarian assistance enter Gaza while also trying to ensure supplies are not diverted to Hamas.
Why it matters: Senators said the images from Gaza show acute malnutrition and argued for immediate action to prevent additional child deaths. Rubio said the administration is working to expand aid while addressing concerns about diversion and security.
Ending: Senators pressed for a stronger U.S. public response; Rubio said diplomatic engagement continued and said aid flows were expected to rise if Israeli restrictions were eased.
