Foster Joins Colleagues to Urge Biden Administration to Negotiate a Stop to the Fighting to Secure Release of All Hostages, Boost Humanitarian Aid, and Preserve Opportunity for a Two-State Solution

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) joined 61 Members of Congress in urging the Biden Administration to use their leverage to negotiate a stop to the fighting in Gaza and implement policies centered around a two-state solution. 

“I continue to be deeply alarmed by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza and his disregard for the loss of civilian life. It is essential that the Biden Administration continues to pursue a stop to the fighting that allows for the release of the remaining hostages by Hamas and ensures Palestinian civilians are protected with access to critical humanitarian aid,” said Foster. “I also call on the Administration to take all necessary action to reach a sustainable two-state solution that respects both Israel’s long-term security and the self-determination of the Palestinian people.”

In the letter, the Members urged the Biden Administration to:  

Continue to urge the Israeli government to pursue a negotiated stop to the fighting to achieve the immediate release of the hostages, secure desperately needed humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza and conduct a full assessment of the prosecution of this war – including whether it is laying the groundwork for a lasting peace.

Publicly outline a clear plan and pathway to a Palestinian state that emphasizes the critical role that a significantly reformed Palestinian Authority must play in post-war Gaza; and further make clear that the US will not accept Hamas’s occupation or operational control of Gaza, nor Israel’s reoccupation of Gaza or any attempt to establish Israeli illegal outposts or settlements in the Gaza Strip.

Institute greater oversight over arms and material purchased with US assistance to verify compliance with domestic and international law. To that end, we welcome your recent National Security Memorandum and look forward to its enforcement. Additionally, continue to press the Israeli government that going forward – if the fighting continues – the war must be carried out through targeted and limited operations against Hamas that are conducive to implementing an exit strategy and a transitional governance structure in Gaza.

Take continued action to preserve and ensure the opportunity for a two-state solution, such as by reinforcing US positioning that the West Bank and Gaza are “occupied territory” under international law and continuing to condemn and further hold accountable settler violence in the West Bank by enforcing the recent executive order.

Full text of the letter is available here.

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