Echoing Concern of Mass Resettlement of Palestinians

Floor Speech

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge the Biden administration to seek an unequivocal statement of commitment by the Israeli government against mass resettlement of civilians from Gaza.

I echo the concerns of JStreet: any form of mass permanent transfer of families in Gaza from their homeland constitutes an undeniable violation of international human rights law. For too long, Palestinian families have been forced from their homes and endured violence perpetrated by many settlers and the Israeli military. To date, Israeli military operations have displaced more than 85 percent of Gaza residents from their homes, and the United Nations estimates that more than a quarter of Gaza residents will have no home to return to.

The United States has a duty to insist on a public, unequivocal commitment by Prime Minister Netanyahu to stop the displacement of Palestinians living in Gaza and to accept the right of millions of Palestinians to live in peace and safety within Palestinian territory.

As a major military assistance ally, the United States must hold the Israeli government accountable to this and increase pressure to facilitate humanitarian aid to the region. An immediate, comprehensive commitment to ensuring there is no mass displacement of civilians from Gaza--half of whom are children--is required for there to be any hope for peace today or for future generations of Palestinians and Israelis.

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