WASHINGTON, March 3 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement urging President Biden to invoke Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act, demand Netanyahu restore humanitarian aid access to Gaza or lose U.S. military assistance to Israel:

Starvation is taking place in Gaza. Israel is prohibiting aid convoys from delivering desperately needed food and water. This is in clear violation of Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act. The law is very clear:

“No assistance shall be furnished … to any country when it is made known to the President that the government of such country prohibits or otherwise restricts, directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of United States humanitarian assistance.”

Today I urge President Biden to implement this law and make it clear to Israel that, if aid access is not immediately opened up, he will impose consequences under the Foreign Assistance Act and stop military assistance to Israel.