Sanders Blocks GOP Push to Make US Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Impossible

[Donkees]

Oct 18, 2023

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday blocked passage of Republican legislation that he warned would worsen the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, which has been bombarded by Israeli forces for the past 12 days in retaliation for a major Hamas attack.

Sanders (I-Vt.) objected to an attempt by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to pass by unanimous consent his Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act, which would prohibit aid to Gaza until the president certifies to congressional committees that the funds won't benefit members of Hamas or any other organization the U.S. government has designated as a terrorist group.

Sanders urged fellow senators to recognize that "right now there are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women, and children in Gaza who have lost their homes... They have no food. They have no water. They have no fuel... Half of those people are children."

Sanders pointed out the lengths to which the U.S., U.N., and others already go to ensure that humanitarian aid is not diverted to groups such as Hamas, and highlighted that some assistance may finally get into Gaza soon, after pressure from the United States—which provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military support.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-2666017514

Oct 18, 2023

[Lovie777]

1. K&R......

[cstanleytech]

2. Unfortunately I don't see things improving for the people in Gaza after what Hamas did.

[SouthernDem4ever]

3. I have too many mixed feeling about this

Or mixed up feelings if that is more accurate. I guess as long as the aid is assuredly buying humanitarian needs and not cash for more weapons.

[cstanleytech]

6. Problem is how do we keep the aid out of the hands of Hamas? After all cutting things like water and power

isnt actually being done to punish the civilians in Gaza but rather to bring Hamas to justice and free the hostages.

[JI7]

8. Can they distribute things directly to the population ?

[Warpy]

9. I think that's the idea

Israel, Egypt and the US semi blockade will ensure that the aid isn't just transferred to another ship to sell elsewhere for the currency to buy more weapons.

Their most pressing need is water. Without fuel, the electricity doesn't work. Without electricity, the water system doesn't work. You can go over a month without food, although it's not recommended. You can go 5 days max without water and even if you're still barely alive, your kidneys will have shut down and you'll need dialysis for a while. And that doesn't work without electricity, either.

[BootinUp]

4. Good. nt

[AntivaxHunters]

5. Thank you Bernie

[progressoid]

7. +1