House Democrats urge Biden to use leverage to shift Israel's war strategy in Gaza

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - A group of US House Representatives sent a letter to President Joe Biden this week, urging him to use the US' leverage to shift Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's “military strategy and tactics in Gaza.”

“We urge you to continue to use all our leverage to achieve an immediate and significant shift of military strategy and tactics in Gaza,” Democratic Representatives Jason Crow, Mikie Sherrill, Chrissy Houlahan, Seth Moulton, Abigail Spanberger, and Elissa Slotkin said in the letter.

The representatives expressed deep concern over Netanyahu's current military strategy in Gaza, stating: “The mounting civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis are unacceptable and not in line with American interests; nor do they advance the cause of security for our ally Israel.”

Noting that the current strategy also “jeopardizes” efforts to destroy Hamas and secure the release of all hostages, the letter said there has been no significant change in Israel's military strategy despite the push from the Intelligence, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs Committees.

“We have dedicated our lives to national security and believe our nation's values are a source of credibility and power. Some of us also spent years fighting America's war on terror. We know from personal and often painful experience that you can't destroy a terror ideology with military force alone. And it can, in fact, make it worse,” they added.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since the Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, killing nearly 20,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 52,586, according to health authorities in the enclave.

Israeli attacks has left Gaza in ruins with half of the coastal territory's housing stock damaged or destroyed, and nearly 2 million people displaced within the densely populated enclave amid shortages of food and clean water.

Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack, while more than 130 hostages remain in captivity.