Friends,
Almost 100 House Democrats signed on to the J Street-backed congressional letter urging the Netanyahu government to end its “morally wrong” and “strategically counterproductive” blockade of all food, shelter, medicine and other humanitarian supplies from Gaza.
As Jews and Americans, this blockade is a deeply painful violation of our values. It’s meaningful not only that so many members signed on, but that their number includes so many prominent Jewish representatives and rising leaders of the party.
A sincere thank you to everyone who joined this effort – who signed our petition and called their Members of Congress – and to Representatives Ami Bera and Salud Carbajal for their pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy leadership in pressing this forward.
This is a balanced, fair and urgent letter. It calls out Hamas’ barbarity, shares pain over the October 7 attacks, echoes concerns of hostage families and reaffirms support for Israel’s security alongside the call for humanitarian aid access.
As the letter makes clear, there was a hostage deal that succeeded in stopping the devastation and returning the hostages – and we should try everything we can to return to it.
But we are not the only advocates on Capitol Hill. Right-wing groups actively pressed members not to add their names – and I don’t need to remind anyone of the slew of competing issues facing Congress right now as the Trump Administration lurches from crisis to crisis.
That we were able to rally so many folks to speak out is a show of real urgency and concern, and how strong our coalition is becoming thanks to supporters like you.
With Netanyahu threatening to make a catastrophic situation even worse with a full, indefinite military occupation of Gaza, we deeply appreciate your support in this moment.
Thank you, once again, for standing with us.
Lilly Adelstein
Deputy Director of Government Affairs, J Street
