Dozens of congressional Democrats have called on the White House to intervene in what they describe as ongoing ceasefire violations by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. In a letter addressed to President Donald Trump on Monday, the lawmakers emphasized the need for the United States to exert “maximum diplomatic pressure” to ensure compliance with a ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10, 2023.
As of Monday, Gaza’s Government Media Office reported that Israeli forces had committed 875 ceasefire violations, resulting in the deaths of 411 Palestinians and injuring over 1,112 others. The official death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, has reached at least 70,937 Palestinians, with an additional 171,192 wounded. Experts warn that the actual figures could be significantly higher.
In their letter, Representatives Mark Pocan and Madeleine Dean, alongside 45 of their colleagues, condemned the “continued bombardment against civilians, destruction of property, and insufficient delivery of humanitarian aid.” They asserted the importance of holding Israel accountable for its actions while also acknowledging the need to address Hamas’s violations of the ceasefire.
The United States has provided Israel with over $20 billion in military aid under both the Biden and Trump administrations since the onset of violence following Hamas’s attacks. The lawmakers urged Trump to consider leveraging this assistance to ensure adherence to the ceasefire terms. They expressed concern that ongoing violence undermines the fragile agreement and threatens the prospect of sustainable peace in the region.
The letter highlights that although both Hamas and Israel have breached the ceasefire, the response from Israel has been “severe and disproportionate,” resulting in significant civilian casualties. For instance, on November 29, Israeli military operations killed two young brothers, aged 8 and 10, in a drone strike, which the military referred to as targeting “suspects” without acknowledging their age.
Since the ceasefire’s inception, the letter notes that Israeli forces have reportedly destroyed over 1,500 buildings, many of which were not previously damaged. These demolitions included homes, entire neighborhoods, gardens, and small orchards. The lawmakers expressed grave concern regarding the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, noting insufficient levels of aid entering the region. The ceasefire agreement stipulated that 600 trucks of aid should enter daily, yet reports indicate that far fewer are making it through.
While a recent global initiative tracking hunger crises concluded that Gaza is no longer facing “famine,” it stressed that the situation remains critical for approximately 1.6 million Palestinians. The ongoing humanitarian crisis is also a factor in the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Democratic representatives concluded their letter by emphasizing the importance of the ceasefire agreement as an opportunity for lasting peace. They acknowledged that while not perfect, the agreement offers a chance to break the cycle of violence that has afflicted the region for years. They warned that the daily violations could lead to a resurgence of full-scale war, urging the Trump administration to take decisive action to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid delivery.
