DENVER — Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and New Mexico Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján are calling on the Trump administration to expand humanitarian aid in Gaza and to resume ceasefire negotiations.
The two Colorado Democrats and two New Mexico Democrats joined 34 Senate Democrats and one Independent in a letter addressed to Sec. of State Marco Rubio and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
“With recent efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas being unsuccessful, the situation in Gaza remains perilous,” read the July 29 letter.
“Efforts to secure an agreement are as critical and urgent as ever and we urge the resumption of good-faith talks as quickly as possible.
“While we appreciate that additional aid is beginning to enter Gaza, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Yet there still remains a viable pathway to end this war, bring home Israeli hostages, and achieve a diplomatic resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
The letter drew attention to the hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 and made specific mention of Americans Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, both of whose remains are still being held by Hamas.
Wrote the senators: “It is imperative that those still living be brought home as soon as possible, before more perish as the war drags on. And it is essential that the remains of those presumed killed — including Americans Omer Neutra and Itay Chen — be reunited with their loved ones.”
The letter called the humanitarian crisis in Gaza “acute” and “unsustainable,” saying it was worsening “by the day.”
It stated:
“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.”
It accused the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation of contributing “to an unacceptable and mounting civilian death toll around the organization’s sites.”
It called on the Trump administration “to advocate for a large-scale expansion of humanitarian assistance and services throughout the Gaza Strip, including through the use of experienced multilateral bodies and NGOs that can get life-saving aid directly to those in need and prevent diversion.”
The letter stated, “a permanent end to this war will also require an end to Hamas rule in Gaza and ensuring that Hamas can no longer pose a serious military threat to Israel.
“We reaffirm our strong support for continued US-led diplomacy with Israel, Palestinian leaders, and other partners in the Middle East in pursuit of the long-term goal of a negotiated two-state solution.”
The senators also said they remain “opposed to the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian people.
“This would be antithetical to international humanitarian law, to a sustainable end to this war that prioritizes the long-term safety and security of Israelis and Palestinians alike, to achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East and expanding the Abraham Accords.”
In addition to Bennet, Hickenlooper, Heinrich and Luján, the other Democratic senators who signed the letter were:
Angela Alsobrooks (Md.), Tammy Baldwin Wisc.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Lisa Blunt-Rochester (Del.), Cory Booker NJ), Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Chris Coons (Del.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Maggie Hassan (NH), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Tim Kaine (Va.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Chris Murphy (Conn.), Patty Murray (Wash.), Jon Ossoff (Ga.), Alex Padilla (Calif.), Gary Peters (Mich.), Jack Reed (RI), Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Adam Schiff (Calif.), Chuck Schumer (NY), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Elissa Slotkin (Mich.), Mark Warner (Va.), Raphael Warnock (Ga.), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Peter Welch (Vt.), and Ron Wyden (Ore.).
Independent Angus King (Maine), who caucuses with the Democrats, also signed.
