WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Chris Coons (D-DE), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense, and Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs released the following statement:

“We are deeply concerned by the Israeli government’s decision to expand military operations and seize control of Gaza City, apparently as a prelude to fully occupying Gaza. This is a dangerous move opposed by numerous senior Israeli security officials. Gaza continues to experience an extreme humanitarian crisis, and this decision only makes matters worse. We are nearly two years into this conflict, and it is clear military escalation will not deliver an end to the violence, will delay the return and may even lead to deaths of Israeli and American hostages held by Hamas, and will severely damage any prospect of a future political settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.

"We reaffirm support for U.S-led diplomacy to reach a two-state solution with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in lasting peace, security, dignity and mutual recognition. Israel’s military has decimated Hamas’s military capabilities and ensured Hamas can never again carry out attacks like those committed on October 7th. Now, the parties must immediately return to the negotiating table and secure a ceasefire that brings the hostages home and charts a diplomatic resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”