Durbin Reiterates Ceasefire Call Following the Death of Seven Humanitarian Aid Workers in Gaza
Press Release
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“Last week, we saw another tragedy in Gaza – an attack that killed seven people delivering desperately needed, life-saving humanitarian aid. The victims were employees of World Central Kitchen, an amazing organization run by an extraordinary individual, José Andrés. They started to feed people in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and have continued since in some of the most challenging parts of the world.
Andrés’ innovative and courageous team has been helping people in Gaza since the crisis began in October, providing critical food to millions of innocents caught in the conflict. I always have admired his ingenuity and tenacity in taking on these truly life-saving operations for those most in need. Mr. Andrés is truly a hero. My heart goes out to him and the families of those on his team who were recklessly and avoidably killed last week, adding to the more than 200 aid workers who have been killed in Gaza.
We have seen a series of seemingly cascading crises in this conflict. The list keeps growing: October 7 – the Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 and took more than 200 people hostage. The widespread destruction, loss of civilian life, and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel’s response lacks any long-term strategy and is made worse by Hamas’ hiding among civilians. The continued holding of Israeli hostages, including one with ties to our home state of Illinois, by Hamas and Hamas’ refusal to accept a ceasefire in exchange fortheir release. The bewildering and inexcusable failure of Israel to set up deconfliction mechanisms for adequate aid delivery. The failure to recognize that a massive military-only response by Israel will never provide a long-term path to stability and end the violence.
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I have long said that I do not think the current Israeli or Palestinian leadership is really up to the challenge needed to bring hope, stability, or a viable two-state solution to the region.
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Early in the conflict, I cautioned Israelis not be blinded by their pain from October 7 and make the same types of mistakes we made after September 11 – a warning I believe their current leadership in Israel has failed to heed.
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Chef Andrés made a similar point, with which I agree, that Israel’s strategy in Gaza is futile and indefensible with so much innocent loss of human life.
I have long called for a ceasefire that includes the release of the remaining hostages, as well as a sustained, U.S.-led Gaza relief operation that includes food, medicine, and other critical basics. The inexcusable deaths of the World Central Kitchen staff in Gaza are reminders that these steps are needed now more than ever,”
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