[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 129 (Monday, July 28, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4761-S4762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                  Gaza

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I think many watching the Senate from 
afar and even those of us privileged to serve in this body see us as 
simply talking past one another on a far too regular basis. So I want 
to start today remembering some wise words from my friend and former 
Senate colleague the Republican Senator from Nebraska and later 
Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel.
  Chuck was an internationalist and knew the dangers, personalities, 
and difficult tradeoffs when dealing with overseas challenges. Several 
years ago, he said quite wisely:

       Powerful nations must be the adults in world affairs. 
     Anything less will result in disastrous, useless, preventable 
     global conflict.

  I couldn't agree with Senator Hagel more, and I want our Israeli 
allies to think carefully about his words when it comes to the horror 
of Gaza.
  Quite simply, the humanitarian conditions in Gaza are appalling, 
unconscionable, and cruel. Last week, more than 100 NGOs--including 
Mercy Corps, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, and Oxfam--
warned of mass starvation spreading across Gaza. Following Israeli 
Prime Minister Netanyahu's nearly 3-month blockade of humanitarian 
assistance, three-quarters of the population in Gaza is facing 
emergency or catastrophic levels of hunger. The tiniest of babies 
cannot even access formula and risk heartbreaking death.
  Yes, Hamas started this conflict with a heinous attack on Israel. 
Yes, Hamas is still unconscionably holding hostages. And yes, Hamas 
cynically uses civilians as human shields and brutally represses brave 
Gazans who are protesting for an end of this despicable rule. But, as I 
have repeatedly appealed to Israel, learn from our mistakes in the 
United States after September 11, after the attack on our country and 
the loss of 3,000 innocent Americans. Be careful of decisions made in 
the fog of rage, pain, and loss. Recognize there is no solely military 
solution to defeating a terrorist group.
  In fact, last September, the Israeli Defense Forces assessed that 
Hamas had been largely defeated militarily and that today, Hamas is 
effectively, in the words of the Israeli military, a guerrilla terror 
group.
  Israel should have been planning how to restore order and thinking 
about a day-after plan in Gaza long ago when

[[Page S4762]]

Hamas's military capabilities had largely been destroyed. Several noted 
Israeli leaders tried, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and 
Director of the Israeli Security Agency Ronen Bar--both of whom were 
fired by Netanyahu.
  Let me be clear. Continuing this war with no discernible end is not 
in Israel's national security interest, and a lack of a viable plan and 
the humanitarian fiasco have been glaring mistakes--getting worse by 
the day.
  Last week, Senators Reed, Shaheen, Warner, Coons, Schatz, and I 
called for a drastic change of course in Gaza, including an end to the 
fighting, return of the hostages, a dramatic increase in humanitarian 
aid, and a viable path toward a two-state solution that brings in 
regional powers to help manage and rebuild Gaza.
  You cannot watch these scenes on television of these children 
emaciated because of their starvation and other children begging with 
pans for just a little bit of food to survive and believe this is the 
right course of action. It has to end. The humanitarian aid has to 
start immediately. It is within Israel's capabilities to do that. There 
is no excuse if they don't.
  There was some welcome news this weekend about reopened aid 
corridors, but the larger urgent steps just can't wait any longer. I 
know the dilemma. I believe I know the dilemma that Israel faces with 
the attacks on October 7 on Israelis. I saw the videotape. Hamas was 
outrageous in their conduct in this invasion of Israel. But it has 
reached a point now where Israel has to show some leadership.
  I don't know what Prime Minister Netanyahu is waiting for, but if he 
witnessed what we do in the United States from organizations across the 
world begging us to do something, to join them in stopping this 
humanitarian disaster, perhaps his heart will soften somewhat. We have 
to, in the United States, show real leadership.
  I yield the floor.

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