Ramirez, Lee, Tlaib Call On Administration For Answers on Efforts to Ensure the Safety of Civilians, American Citizens in Gaza, West Bank
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswomen Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) sent a letter calling on the Secretary of the Department of State Antony J. Blinken to urgently brief Members of Congress with meaningful information on the safety of civilians, particularly those in Gaza and the West Bank, the efforts to safely release hostages, and the status of American citizens in Palestine. The members of Congress are also urging answers on the efforts of the agency to protect humanitarian interests in the region.
“I am concerned about the lack of meaningful information provided by the Department on the status of civilians [...] I formally request that the Department provide a subsequent Member-level briefing specific to the status of civilians, particularly those in Gaza and the West Bank, and the status of American citizens in Israel and Palestine. I request it happen in the next 5 business days, given the urgent need for this information,” wrote the members of Congress.
“Our government has an obligation to ensure the safety and protection of each and all American citizens, including the 500 Palestinian-Americans stranded in Gaza. While I’ve been participating in several meetings and security briefings to understand the situation on the ground and to hear from people directly impacted in Israel and Palestine, I am disappointed we still don't have clear information on what our government is doing to protect civilians in Gaza,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “That is why I’ve formally requested the Department of State to provide a clear response on the situation in Gaza and the status of Palestinian-Americans in Gaza.“
“After President Biden urged the Israeli government to respect the ‘rules of war,’ Secretary Antony Blinken urged Israel to ‘take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.’ We have seen neither in the Israeli government’s response to Hamas’ brutal attacks,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Palestinian civilians in Gaza - half of whom are children - are not collectively guilty, and should not be collectively punished. We have seen hospitals, densely-populated areas, and even Gaza’s only border-crossing bombed; with over 2,800 Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes and hundreds of thousands of people displaced. We must not equate innocent Palestinian lives with Hamas, and we must address the humanitarian crisis affecting Gaza’s 2.2 million people.”
“Americans like Zakaria and Laila Alarayshi are trapped in Gaza as the bombings intensify. They feel abandoned by their own government and in the first few days of the war, the State Department was silent and had no plan for Americans in Gaza. Now the safety of Americans is in jeopardy. We must bring all Americans home,” said Congresswoman Tlaib.
The letter comes as, according to reports, more than 2,778 people in Gaza have died, more than 9,700 are wounded, and approximately 500 Palestinian-Americans remain in Gaza. Reporting also suggests that more than 423,000 people have been displaced across the Gaza Strip. New reports suggest that the region is running out of water, food, fuel, and essential provisions, and humanitarian aid is held from reaching the people in Gaza.
The full text of the letter can be found HERE.
BACKGROUND
Since the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians and the following escalating violence in Gaza, Congresswoman Ramirez has remained intentional in her efforts to uplift our shared humanity, protect the lives of all Palestinians and all Israeli civilians, and urge for the ceasefire to prioritize diplomatic solutions for lasting peace in the region. On Oct. 13, the Congresswoman and more than 50 members sent a letter urging President Joe Biden and the Secretary of the Department of State Blinken to ensure the protection of Israeli and Palestinian civilians by calling for Israeli military operations to follow the rules of international humanitarian law, the safe return of hostages, and diplomatic efforts to ensure long-lasting peace. On Oct 16, Ramirez joined 13 members of Congress in the introduction of a resolution urging the Biden Administration to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, to send humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza, and to save as many lives as possible.