WASHINGTON, March 7 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement on President Biden’s decision to build an emergency port to immediately deliver critical supplies to Gaza:

I welcome President Biden’s decision to direct the U.S. military to establish an emergency port on the Gaza coast to allow large quantities of food, water, medicine, and other essential supplies to be delivered directly to the people of Gaza. This is a necessary step to respond to the horrific humanitarian crisis unfolding there and address the widespread starvation, disease, and desperation caused by this war and Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the area.

But let’s be clear about why this extraordinary step is necessary: Despite months of increasingly urgent requests from the very highest officials in the U.S. government, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his extreme, right-wing government have refused to let in sufficient humanitarian aid. That has led to this incredible situation, in which a U.S. ally is using U.S. weapons and equipment to block the delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid. And now, American taxpayers have to pay even more to build a port to get aid into starving people, because Israel won’t let it be driven safely and efficiently across the border.

Hundreds of thousands of people are starving to death – President Biden is right to act decisively to prevent a further catastrophe. But the United States provides Israel with $3.8 billion in military aid every year, and Congress is considering another $14 billion this year. It’s time we stop asking Israel to do the right thing and start telling Israel what must happen if they want the support of the United States.