Rep. Vasquez Joins Effort Urging President Biden to Address Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) joined a coalition of 88 members of Congress in sending a letter to President Biden calling for immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. The letter also calls on President Biden to threaten to pause weapons delivery to ensure compliance with U.S. laws regarding delivering humanitarian aid.

Vasquez raised concerns regarding Israel’s conduct in the war, particularly the withholding or obstructing of delivery of humanitarian aid. Despite recent policy changes by the Israeli government to allow increased aid into Gaza, there must be more done to address the ongoing crisis. In the letter, Vasquez urged President Biden to make it clear “that so long as Israel restricts, directly or indirectly, the facilitation of humanitarian aid delivery into Gaza,” the Israeli government is risking its eligibility for additional U.S. aid.

The letter also calls on President Biden to consider withholding specific arms transfers to Israel until compliance with U.S. law is assured. Following the bipartisan vote to send aid to Israel and humanitarian aid to Gaza, Vasquez and his colleagues wrote, “The security assistance included in the recently passed security supplemental should not be interpreted as a blank check or as implicit approval of the Netanyahu government’s actions. Your administration retains the ability per U.S. law and NSM-20 to suspend certain transfers should it find the Netanyahu government is violating U.S. laws and policies.”

Vasquez awaits a response from the Biden Administration and remains committed to working towards a ceasefire and lasting peace in the region.

Full text of the letter is here.

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