As the Israel-Hamas war neared the end its second week and the death toll of Israelis and Palestinians reportedly exceeded 5,000 people, Vermont’s three-member congressional delegation expressed horror at the conflict’s human cost — but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire.
“Israel has the right to go after Hamas,” U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., told VTDigger in an interview Wednesday. “Israel is threatened by Hamas, and I respect the right of Israel to go after these terrorists who slaughtered innocent people and whose stated goal is to kill Jews and destroy Israel. And they showed a willingness to take steps to do that. Israel has that right, but it also has the obligation to do everything, everything, everything it possibly can to protect innocent civilians.”
In response to an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants that killed an estimated 1,400 Israelis, Israel has been fierce in its retaliation — dropping bombs on Gaza, ordering mass evacuations and cutting off civilian access to food, water and medical supplies.
According to the Associated Press, Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on Thursday directed Israeli Defense Forces to “get organized, be ready” for a ground invasion of Gaza.
In a Senate floor speech Wednesday evening, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said, “The State of Israel has the absolute right to defend itself against Hamas and terrorism, in general — no debate on that.” But he also implored his colleagues to support U.S. humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, who he said were facing “an almost unprecedented modern humanitarian disaster.”
“While we fully appreciate the horrific attack by Hamas against the innocent people of Israel, I ask you also to understand that right now, there are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza who have lost their homes,” Sanders said. “They’ve been thrown out of their homes. They have no food. They have no water. They have no fuel. And I remind my colleagues that half of those people are children.”
As for the United States’ role in the conflict, all three members of the Vermont delegation — Welch, Sanders and U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt. — are, like many other members of Congress and humanitarian organizations, pushing the federal government to deploy humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank. President Joe Biden appeared to heed those calls on Wednesday, announcing $100 million in humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians. According to NPR, that aid is expected to arrive in the war-torn region by Friday.
That number, however, pales in comparison to a military spending package that the White House is reportedly assembling, which would include $100 billion in military aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, according to Reuters.
Biden on Wednesday visited Israel, signaling the U.S. government’s solidarity with the country. But he also nudged Israeli officials to exhibit restraint, according to the New York Times’ coverage of the visit, recalling the United States’ response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“You can’t look at what has happened here to your mothers, your fathers, your grandparents, sons, daughters, children, even babies and not scream out for justice. Justice must be done,” Biden said in a speech. “But I caution this — while you feel that rage, don’t be consumed by it. After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. While we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes.”
Welch told VTDigger on Wednesday that he would support an aid package that, in addition to sending money to Israel, “would absolutely include significant humanitarian aid” to Palestinian civilians. He said he would continue to be a “strong advocate” for keeping Israel’s attacks narrowly focused on Hamas, not civilians.
Asked if the U.S. government should place conditions on any aid issued to Israel, Welch said, “I think we need the aid package now, and I don’t think it’s a place to micromanage.”
When asked if issuing aid to the Israeli military would signal the U.S. government’s support for tactics that have been criticized, he responded, “I can tell you what I support. You know, people can read it in whatever ways they will.”
“But my two concerns would be to provide defensive help (to Israel) against incoming Hamas rockets. The more we can protect innocent Israeli citizens, the better for all concerned,” Welch said. “And then, second, I am seeing the president talk much more about humanitarian aid.”
Freeland Ellis, a spokesperson for Sanders, told VTDigger on Wednesday that she “didn’t have an update” on whether Sanders planned to vote in favor of military aid to Israel.
Asked the same question, Balint spokesperson Sophie Pollock wrote to VTDigger that Balint was “awaiting the President’s request for supplemental funds for Israel and Gaza. She plans to assess the request closely and will advocate for urgent and meaningful humanitarian aid in the region.”
Ahead of Biden’s visit to Israel, Welch on Tuesday cosigned a letter to the president alongside Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and Maryland’s U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, both Democrats. The three senators urged the president, while in Israel, to prioritize Palestinian civilian safety in his discussions with Israeli officials and push for immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Welch pointed to Biden’s Wednesday announcement of $100 million in U.S. aid to Palestinians and said he thinks Congress members’ advocacy was “having an effect” on the president. Biden’s “original discussion didn’t include that,” Welch said.
Sanders declined an interview request.
Balint canceled a scheduled interview to discuss the war with VTDigger on Wednesday, but in a written statement later that afternoon, the first-term representative said, “To meet this moment with the moral clarity it requires, protecting innocent lives must be at the forefront of Israel’s response to Hamas’ terror campaign.”
“I support Israel’s right to defend itself after the unprecedented surprise attack against them,” she said. “I’m calling for Israel to take all necessary measures to ensure the successful transport of aid to Gaza. With millions of lives at risk, attacks on homes, schools, water, and power must be off limits. Any acts of collective punishment are unacceptable, in keeping with international law.”
