Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Demand Trump Administration Use Diplomatic Tools to End Blockade of Food and Aid for Gaza
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, (both D-VA) and 27 of their Senate colleagues introduced legislation calling on the Trump Administration to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to bring an end to the blockage of food and lifesaving humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza. In their resolution, the senators express grave concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including warnings of imminent starvation of tens of thousands of children.
“Every day that innocent civilians, including children, are going without access to food, clean water, or necessary medical care, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens,” said Warner. “It is incumbent upon Israeli authorities to ensure that emergency food and humanitarian aid are able to reach Palestinian civilians. As we continue to push for a full and complete ceasefire that includes the safe return of all remaining hostages, the Trump administration must work to ensure that innocent people are not left to die because of inaction.”
“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening every day, and innocent civilians—including children—are in desperate need of food and medical supplies,” said Kaine. “The Israeli government must immediately lift any blockades on food and emergency aid and allow credible international organizations to facilitate the swift delivery of lifesaving aid to civilians in Gaza. We must also continue to advocate for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that results in the return of all hostages to their families and a surge of humanitarian assistance into Gaza—the only durable path to a resolution of this crisis.”
Since March 2, 2025, the Israeli government has blocked all food and emergency aid—including medicine, infant formula, fuel, and other lifesaving humanitarian supplies—from reaching Palestinian civilians in Gaza. In the same month, all 25 World Food Program (WFP)-supported bakeries in Gaza closed, wheat flour and cooking fuel ran out, and food parcels distributed to families, with two weeks of food rations, were depleted. According to the United Nations, about 10,000 children have been identified as suffering from acute malnutrition since January 2025.
In addition to Warner and Kaine, the legislation is sponsored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
Full text of the legislation is available here.
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