Rep. Panetta Presses U.S. State Department to Increase Humanitarian Aid into Gaza

Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) pressed officials from the U.S. Department of State on progress being made to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.  Rep. Panetta previously led a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Department of State detailing critical actions needed to better coordinate relief for civilians in Gaza alongside our partners in Egypt and NGOs in the region. The closed-door congressional briefing, with State Department and USAID leaders, covered recent positive developments in improving humanitarian aid delivery as well as continued challenges to relief efforts.

For months, international relief agencies, faith-based groups, and NGOs have struggled to navigate Al Arish Port and Rafah Crossing at the Egyptian-Gaza border, delaying critical humanitarian aid into the warzone.  Four hundred humanitarian aid trucks are now entering Gaza daily, the highest number since the start of the war.  Officials and humanitarian groups estimate that assistance needs to significantly increase with more delivery trucks to support higher volumes of aid deliveries into Gaza in addition to critical infrastructure improvements. Furthermore, the United States and its partners are ramping up aid deliveries by land, air, and sea to meet the serious needs of civilians in Gaza.  

“More humanitarian aid must reach civilians in Gaza,” said Rep. Panetta.  “I have consistently and clearly stated that urgent need throughout this complicated conflict, including in our bipartisan letter in which my Congressional colleagues and I demanded action by the Biden Administration.  I appreciate the quick response by the U.S. State Department with today’s meeting as well as their coordination with Israel to increase deliveries of aid into Gaza.  However, more must be done to ensure additional critical supplies by air, land, and sea.  Despite the recent tragedy involving the World Central Kitchen aid workers, the United States, its international partners, and aid organizations must continue to move forward with urgency so that the people of Gaza have access to timely, regular, and sufficient deliveries of humanitarian assistance.”

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