During Wednesday’s segment of MSNBC’s “Way Too Early,” Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) acknowledged the complexities involved in ensuring humanitarian aid reaches Gazans once it arrives in Israel, noting that the United States is presently grappling with this challenge.
He clarified that the issue extends beyond Israel’s actions to include interference from Hamas and other groups diverting the aid trucks.
Landsman emphasized the importance of collaborating with Israel to ensure the aid reaches those in need.
He also highlighted the ongoing problem posed by Hamas, which refuses to release hostages or agree to a ceasefire.
Landsman stated:
Surging humanitarian aid is a top priority. It has to be a top priority. I was in Israel a couple of months ago, and the primary mission or objective of our trip was to pressure all parties involved, not just Israel, to increase humanitarian aid and create conducive conditions. It is very difficult, once you get aid into Israel, as the United States is finding out now, to ensure that it’s being distributed and getting to Gazans, and that is a huge problem that goes beyond what Israel is or isn’t doing, that it is Hamas and others who are diverting these trucks. And so, working with Israel to create those conditions, those humanitarian corridors is critically important. The challenge, obviously, is that Hamas has these hostages, refuses to release the hostages or agree to any ceasefire that’s been proposed, and we need, obviously, for Hamas to agree to a ceasefire. And, if they don’t, for Israel to pursue ending Hamas, getting these hostages out in the most surgical and disciplined way possible.
