Pro-Israel Democrats join calls for Netanyahu to shift strategy in Gaza due to ‘unacceptable’ humanitarian crisis

A group of moderate, pro-Israel Democrats say the mounting civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza is “unacceptable” and urge US President Joe Biden to use his leverage to secure an immediate and significant shift in Israel’s military strategy in the war against Hamas.

The letter by six center-left lawmakers who sit on the Intelligence, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs Committees indicates that Israel is slowly losing the support of its strongest advocates in the Democratic party, as the war in Gaza drags on.

Signing on to the letter are Reps. Elissa Slotkin, Abigail Spanberger, Chrissy Houlahan, Seth Moulton, Mikie Sherrill and Jason Crow.

“We are deeply concerned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current military strategy in Gaza,” they write.

“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.”

“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,” the letter continues.

“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,” they add.