Senator Sherrod Brown

WASHIGNTON, DC – Immediately after today’s Senate vote on S. Res. 10, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a cosponsor of the measure, issued the following statement:

“Today’s resolution made it clear that Congress supports Israel’s right to defend itself and that we are concerned about humanitarian aid and protecting civilian lives.

“I am deeply troubled over the situation in Gaza. For its first seven years, the Bush administration ignored the problems in the Middle East and allowed the threat posed by Hamas to grow. We need persistent diplomacy in the region, not half-hearted efforts at the eleventh hour.

“The United States must become more engaged in negotiating an end to the violence and a plan for lasting peace in the region. All obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid must be immediately lifted. The recent decision by Israel to temporarily cease military operations to allow humanitarian assistance into Gaza was a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the hardship there. I am extremely concerned about the growing number of civilian casualties.

“As the Bush administration comes to an end, I look forward to working with the Obama administration in its effort to bring about peace and security for the region.”