Washington, DC – Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement:
“Israel has the right and responsibility to defend itself from terrorist attacks and to ensure that something like what happened on October 7th never happens again.
“Hamas’ attacks against Israel, including the gruesome massacre and kidnapping of civilians, are abhorrent and necessitate a robust response that ensures the long-term safety and security of both Israelis and Palestinians.
“At the same time, we must not lose sight that upholding the law of war and protecting civilians is absolutely paramount. I’m concerned by the humanitarian situation on the ground in Gaza. The images of loss and human suffering from Gaza are devastating.
“I echo the Biden Administration’s call for humanitarian pauses to ensure that life-saving assistance–such as food, water, medicine, and fuel–reaches innocent civilians in Gaza and for the purposes of returning hostages held by Hamas to safety.”