Washington, DC – Today Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement:
“I am horrified by reports that over 100 Palestinians were killed and nearly 800 injured while attempting to access aid in Gaza city. While details are still emerging, the loss of life is horrific and is another indication of the devastating humanitarian situation. Under these circumstances worse incidents may occur as civilians in Gaza become increasingly desperate.
“While I applaud President Biden’s decision to airdrop aid, there is no substitute for conventional deliveries of critically needed humanitarian support. We must redouble our efforts to reach an agreement that will pause the fighting, free hostages from Hamas, and address the humanitarian tragedy. It is my fervent hope that we can use the relative calm of a temporary ceasefire to begin envisioning a day-after scenario that would mean security for Israel alongside a brighter future for the Palestinian people and ultimately a path to statehood. I am clear eyed at how distant that prospect appears today, but in 75 years no one has offered a credible and just alternative.”