Six U.S. Congress members on Friday called on the Trump administration to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza, following the U.S. withdrawal from recent ceasefire negotiations hosted by Qatar.

In a joint statement, the six lawmakers said: "We urge the Trump administration to leverage its significant influence to press Prime Minister Netanyahu toward a ceasefire agreement."

They demanded:

• "A substantial increase in humanitarian aid, with reliable mechanisms for effective distribution."

• "Established humanitarian organizations like the World Food Programme – which have the expertise and capacity to resume aid delivery without civil disruption – must be allowed to operate unimpeded."

The statement emphasized the need to either "radically reform or shut down the Gaza Humanitarian Mechanism" and resume support for "existing UN-led aid coordination frameworks in Gaza."

The lawmakers also insisted on "developing a 'day-after' plan for Gaza," stressing that the U.S. must pressure Israel to "establish a viable framework for returning to a two-state solution."

Humanitarian Catastrophe

The statement described Gaza’s conditions as "horrific and unacceptable," noting that over 100 NGOs – including Mercy Corps, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, and Oxfam – have warned of "famine spreading across Gaza this week."

It added:

• *"After Prime Minister Netanyahu’s near-total blockade on humanitarian aid for three months, 75% of Gazans now face emergency or catastrophic hunger levels."*

• "The few operating sites of the Gaza Humanitarian Mechanism are entirely inadequate to meet starving civilians’ needs."

• "Chaotic and dangerous aid distribution has already claimed around 700 lives."

While some established aid groups have resumed "extremely limited operations," the statement noted that "persistent restrictions and security challenges prevent them from working at full capacity." The situation worsened this week as "Israel’s military expansion into central Gaza – for the first time in the conflict – jeopardized even these minimal remaining operations."

Warning Against Strategic Failure

The lawmakers concluded:
"This war’s continuation without a clear endgame serves neither Israel’s national security nor regional stability. The absence of a viable post-war plan is a grave error."