Rep. Panetta Continues to Call for an Immediate Truce, the Release of Hostages, and a Reform to the Delivery of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) released the following statement on the ongoing work to secure peace in the Middle East and calls for the U.S. and international partners to urgently reform humanitarian assistance efforts in Gaza, due to the alarming reports of violence and aid diversion associated with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF):

“The reported bloodshed at humanitarian aid sites in Gaza is wrongful and unacceptable.  When efforts to deliver food result in gunfire, stampedes, and civilian and child casualties, GHF must immediately reassess what it is doing and work with the Israeli government and its defense forces to revise its procedures and plans as one of the few distributors of humanitarian aid to Gaza.  GHF should consider using cleared, trusted, and verified NGOs to expand delivery corridors by land, air, and sea, and institute secure, direct-to-civilian aid routes that minimize contact with Hamas.

“Furthermore, there is a U.S.-led and Qatari and Egyptian-facilitated deal on the table for a 60-day truce between Hamas and Israel, which would be accompanied by the staggered release of all the hostages.  As I have said from the beginning of this conflict, the United States must continue to lead by working with both sides to immediately reach a deal. A deal that will not only stop the violence, but also prompt the release of every hostage, the security of Israel, the administrative and military dismantling of Hamas, and the safe and proper delivery of humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza. Moreover, this deal could lay a strong foundation for the larger goals in the region, including a potential resolution of the Palestinian issue, the further isolation of Iran, and a broadening normalization of relations between our Arab partners and the only democracy in the Middle East.”

It is widely reported that the GHF system, established by Israeli reservists and Trump Administration-aligned American contractors, has been plagued by deadly overcrowding, poor site planning, and a reliance on military intervention for crowd control.  GHF maintains just four active locations across Gaza, which are often closed without notice and lack basic infrastructure or security protocols.  Despite its failures, GHF has received $30 million in approved funding from the U.S. State Department, though most of this has yet been disbursed.  Many humanitarian groups and foreign governments have refused to work with the foundation, citing a lack of transparency, international oversight, and safety for aid workers and recipients alike.

Rep. Panetta continues his work in Congress and with this Administration for the cessation of hostilities in Gaza, the release of all of the hostages who were taken during the horrific attack by Hamas upon Israel on October 7, 2023, the defense of Israel, the defeat of Hamas, the safe and effective delivery of humanitarian aid for the civilians in Gaza, and a lasting peace in the region.

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