Congressman Seth Moulton joined Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) to send a letter to President Joe Biden urging his administration to use all of its leverage to achieve a shift in Israeli military strategy.
“From our positions on the Intelligence, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs Committees, we have consistently pushed for Israel to shift its military strategy— there has been no significant change,” the members wrote in the letter. “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. We also believe it jeopardizes efforts to destroy the terrorist organization Hamas and secure the release of all hostages.”
“Accordingly, we urge you to continue to use all our leverage to achieve an immediate and significant shift of military strategy and tactics in Gaza,” the members continued.
In the letter, the members noted their own military experience. Moulton is a veteran of the Iraq War.
“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,” the letter reads.
Moulton has repeatedly called for Israel to learn from the lessons of America’s War on Terror and minimize civilian casualties. He previously published op-eds in CNN and Time magazine. Earlier this month, he led a letter with Reps. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and Houlahan outlining concerns over Israel’s current military operations and the need for a strategic approach that works toward a political resolution.
On Monday, Israel’s military said it would shift thousands of soldiers out of the Gaza Strip, in the first significant drawdown of troops since the war began. Army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari did not say whether the decision meant Israel was launching a new phase of the war.
But forces continue to bear down on parts of the embattled territory. Fierce fighting continued Monday in areas of Gaza, particularly in the southern city Khan Younis and central areas of the territory. An Associated Press reporter saw at least 17 dead, including four children, from a missile strike on a house in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
