ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — Congressman Josh Riley has returned from the Middle East.
The Democrat from Ithaca traveled to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza border last weekend for a closer look at the conflict. “There is a severe and undeniable humanitarian crisis in Gaza. More food is now entering Gaza, but it still is not getting to those who need it most. I am demanding that the UN and Israeli government jointly develop an aggressive operation to surge aid to innocent civilians. I pressed President Herzog on this issue, making clear that it is both a moral and a strategic imperative,” Riley wrote on Facebook.
He also opined on the prospect of peace. “There can be no lasting peace for either Israelis or Palestinians so long as Iran continues to arm and finance terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Hamas is inflicting unimaginable suffering in the region–torturing hostages, depriving innocent Gazans of basic needs, terrorizing Israelis, and unnecessarily prolonging the war that it started on October 7. Hamas needs to release the hostages, surrender its arms, and cede control to leaders who put the Palestinian people ahead of the Iranian regime,” Riley said.
During his visit, Riley says he met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa.
