07.28.25

Cantwell Joins Senate Democrats, Calls for Large-Scale Expansion of Humanitarian Aid in Gaza, Resumption of Diplomatic Efforts to Secure a Ceasefire & End the War

“Humanitarian situation remains dire” in Gaza, and urgent measures are needed, wrote the Senators in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and 43 other Senate Democrats expressed unified alarm about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, called for the large-scale expansion of humanitarian aid, and urged the Trump Administration to resume diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire agreement and end the war.

“The acute humanitarian crisis in Gaza is also unsustainable and worsens by the day. Hunger and malnutrition are widespread, and, alarmingly, deaths due to starvation, especially among children, are increasing. The ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’ has failed to address the deepening humanitarian crisis and contributed to an unacceptable and mounting civilian death toll around the organization’s sites. To prevent the situation from getting even worse, we urge you to advocate for a large-scale expansion of humanitarian assistance,” the Senators wrote.

The letter, sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, underscores the remaining viable pathway that would end the war, bring home Israeli hostages, ensure Hamas can no longer pose a serious military threat to Israel, and achieve a diplomatic resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Senators also affirm their opposition to the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian people, which would be contrary to international humanitarian law and a sustainable and lasting peace.

“We ask that the Administration make this clear as it seeks an end to the war,” the Senators wrote. “We stand in strong support of diplomatic efforts to return all hostages, end the fighting in Gaza, and bring humanitarian relief for the safety and prosperity of the Israeli and the Palestinian people.”

The letter from Sen. Cantwell was led by Sens. Schiff (D-CA), Schatz (D-HI), Schumer (D-NY), and Rosen (D-NV), and joined by Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full letter is available HERE and below:

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