Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) held a press conference following the release of their report on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza following their recent trip there and the West Bank. Sen. Van Hollen reaffirmed Israel's right to defend its people following the attack by Hamas on October 7, and he also said, "but from our trip, from our observations … it's clear that the Netanyahu government has gone far beyond targeting Hamas to imposing collective punishment on all the people of Gaza." He and Sen. Merkley both spoke on alleged ethnic cleansing by Netanyahu of the people of Gaza, pointing to the restriction and blockade of food and medicines to Gaza, as well as the destruction of nearly 90% of the homes in Rafah, giving no place for people to return to. Both senators also said the U.S. is "complicit" in the destruction of Gaza by giving Netanyahu a "blank check" to fund his attack on Palestinians.