Washington, D.C. – Today, to encourage continued American diplomatic efforts in Israel, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement:
“On October 7th, Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists who sought to destroy it. Even in a world already wracked by violence, the medieval forms of terrorism Hamas inflicted that day were brutal: the massacre at the Supernova music festival; the rape of mothers and daughters; the kidnapping and slaughter of innocent babies and the elderly. In the wake of that horrific attack, Israel has no choice other than to defend itself and protect the Israeli people.
“As members of Hamas launch rockets into Israel from their tunnels underground, they are using innocent Palestinian civilians as human shields, including at hospitals and safe zones. Hamas knows its ruthless disregard for human life makes Israel’s ability to defeat them much more difficult; indeed, this ruthlessness is a core part of Hamas’s strategy.
“Compounding these battlefield realities, Israel must nevertheless meet the highest standard in its conduct of this war. The United States has always regretted instances during war when we have fallen short. It is a difficult standard, but, for Israel’s own sake and for the sake of everyone with high aspirations for democracy, Israel must do everything in its power to limit the loss of life among Palestinian civilians.
“The United States and our allies must do all it can to deliver aid to Gaza with oversight to prevent it from falling into terrorist hands. President Biden is right to call for a humanitarian pause in this war to help rescue the hundreds of hostages held captive by Hamas and address the worsening conditions in Gaza.
“I believe that any humanitarian pause should be agreed to by both Israel and Hamas with necessary conditions, including the immediate release of all hostages kidnapped by Hamas, and the safe passage for Americans and other foreign nationals in Gaza who wish to leave.
“Like many in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank – Palestinian, Israeli, Arab, Jewish, Muslim and Christian – I believe that a two state solution, predicated on the ability of all people in the region to live in safety, is still feasible and desirable, and in fact, necessary. But this only can be achieved after terrorism and terrorists are no longer part of the equation.”
