Casten, Sherman Lead 144 House Democrats Urging Trump to Retract Gaza Statements
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Brad Sherman (CA-32) led 144 House Democrats in urging President Donald Trump to retract his statements that the civilian Palestinian population of the Gaza strip should be permanently relocated and the United States should take control of the region.
“Now more than ever, the United States must play a constructive role in the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the lawmakers wrote. “That is why we are alarmed that an American president would advocate for the forcible removal and permanent displacement of two million people. Such an act would not only be morally indefensible, but it would also violate the Geneva Convention, jeopardize US interests and troops, and undermine our global standing.”
“Following Hamas’s October 7th massacre – the deadliest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust – and the devastation caused by the ensuing Israel-Hamas war, the region is in dire need of real solutions,” the lawmakers continued. “The United States cannot promote forced displacement as a solution to this conflict.”
In addition to Reps. Casten and Sherman, the letter was signed by Reps. Alma Adams, Gabe Amo, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Wesley Bell, Ami Bera, Donald Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Brendan Boyle, Julia Brownley, Nikki Budzinski, Janelle Bynum, Salud Carbajal, André Carson, Troy Carter, Greg Casar, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Gil Cisneros, Yvette Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, James E. Clyburn, Steve Cohen, Gerald Connolly, Joe Courtney, Jasmine Crockett, Jason Crow, Sharice Davids, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Rosa DeLauro, Suzan DelBene, Christopher Deluzio, Mark DeSaulnier, Maxine Dexter, Debbie Dingell, Lloyd Doggett, Sarah Elfreth, Veronica Escobar, Adriano Espaillat, Dwight Evans, Lizzie Fletcher, Bill Foster, Valerie Foushee, Laura Friedman, Maxwell Frost, John Garamendi, Jesús García, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Jimmy Gomez, Al Green, Raúl Grijalva, Josh Harder, Jahana Hayes, James Himes, Chrissy Houlahan, Val Hoyle, Jared Huffman, Glen Ivey, Jonathan Jackson, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson, Julie Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Marcy Kaptur, William Keating, Robin Kelly, Timothy Kennedy, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, John Larson, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Mike Levin, Sam Liccardo, Ted Lieu, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Seth Magaziner, Doris Matsui, Sarah McBride, April McClain Delaney, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, Kristen McDonald Rivet, Morgan McGarvey, James McGovern, LaMonica McIver, Kweisi Mfume, Dave Min, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Seth Moulton, Frank Mrvan, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Richard Neal, Joe Neguse, Eleanor Norton, Johnny Olszewski, Jimmy Panetta, Scott Peters, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Ayanna Pressley, Mike Quigley, Emily Randall, Jamie Raskin, Deborah Ross, Raul Ruiz, Andrea Salinas, Linda Sánchez, Mary Gay Scanlon, Janice Schakowsky, Hillary Scholten, Kim Schrier, Robert Scott, Terri Sewell, Mikie Sherrill, Adam Smith, Eric Sorensen, Darren Soto, Greg Stanton, Marilyn Strickland, Suhas Subramanyam, Eric Swalwell, Emilia Sykes, Mark Takano, Bennie Thompson, Mike Thompson, Dina Titus, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Lori Trahan, Derek Tran, Sylvester Turner, Nydia Velázquez, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Maxine Waters, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Nikema Williams.
A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.
Dear President Trump,
We write to urge you to retract your dangerous February 4, 2025, comments declaring that the civilian Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip be permanently relocated, and that the United States “take over” the territory, “own” it, and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Now more than ever, the United States must play a constructive role in the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That is why we are alarmed that an American president would advocate for the forcible removal and permanent displacement of two million people. Such an act would not only be morally indefensible, but it would also violate the Geneva Convention, jeopardize US interests and troops, and undermine our global standing. The mere suggestion that American men and women in uniform or other U.S. personnel should be ordered to carry out such a crime in a volatile war zone is reckless and dangerous. Even to attempt the forcible removal of two million people would lead to an untold number of American casualties and a monumental increase in terrorism worldwide.
Following Hamas’s October 7th massacre – the deadliest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust – and the devastation caused by the ensuing Israel-Hamas war, the region is in dire need of real solutions. The United States cannot promote forced displacement as a solution to this conflict. Such a move risks destabilizing the delicate ceasefire currently in place, endangering hostages still being held by Hamas, fueling extremist sentiments, and serving as a recruiting tool for terrorist organizations. As evidenced by the 1970 Black September in Jordan and the Palestinian insurgency in Lebanon of the 60s and 70s, hosting a Palestinian population in neighboring countries will neither guarantee Israel’s security nor substitute a long-term political solution.
Your remarks also risk jeopardizing the opportunity for the United States to work with our Arab partners – who have reaffirmed their commitment to comprehensive regional peace based on the rebuilding of Gaza and a pathway to a two-state solution. Rather than pursue the illegal and immoral path you have proposed, we urge you to work with Israel, as well as regional and global partners, to uphold the ceasefire agreement and bring all of the hostages home. Together, we can develop a realistic, internationally-backed, and funded plan to make Gaza livable for its existing residents as quickly as possible.
Our commitment to Israel's security is unwavering, and we will work together to ensure that Israel never experiences another terrorist attack from Gaza like the one on October 7, 2023. A comprehensive regional agreement, including normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside the Jewish and democratic State of Israel, is the only viable long-term solution that can guarantee peace, stability, and security for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.
We look forward to working with you to advance equality, dignity, and lasting peace. However, we will not waver in our opposition to policies that undermine U.S. interests, law, and America’s principled moral position.
Sincerely,
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