But the path toward peace – and the viability of a two-state solution – has been fragile, never more so than in the aftermath of Hamas’ horrific attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli military operation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
This past year has brought unimaginable pain, destruction, and insecurity to the region, including for millions of civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon. Too many innocent people have been caught up in a cycle of conflict that cannot be solved by military means alone. It is long past time for a diplomatic solution that ends the fighting, results in the return of all hostages held by Hamas, and lays the groundwork to rebuild.
The United States must ensure that its policies toward Israel and Palestine are rooted in our fundamental values and oppose actions by either side that undermine the path to peace. It must support Israel’s right to defend itself while also ensuring that U.S. assistance is used in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as U.S. policies for conventional weapons transfers designed to minimize civilian harm. It must also continue to recognize that, in the words of President Biden, “the Palestinian people deserve a state of their own that’s independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous.”
