Are you concerned about starvation in Gaza? Should US do more to help? Tell us. | Opinion
Jerry Seinfeld says he stands with Israel. Ms. Rachel won't work with anyone not speaking out about Gaza. The crisis is drawing out different voices. Tell us what you think about US actions.
As the images of hunger and desperation keep coming at us, we're hearing more and more people weigh in on Gaza, with news coverage picking up on voices ranging from heads of government to internet celebrities. But what do you think?
Those recently criticizing Israel include people like popular children's content creator "Ms. Rachel," who said she'll no longer work with anyone not speaking out about Gaza, as well as right-wing congressional member Marjorie Taylor Greene, who called the situation "genocide." They point to children perishing in the Palestinian enclave where the death toll, made up mostly of civilians, now exceeds 60,000.
Greene's Republican Party has historically stood with Israel, but continued reports of starvation and civilian suffering are peeling away supporters, such as the United Kingdom, which announced it would recognize Palestine as a country if Israel doesn't improve conditions for noncombatants.
But outspoken allies of Israel, from the president to the creator of a culture-defining comedy, say we should remember the horrific surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, that kicked off the war and killed 1,200 Israelis, a majority of them civilians. Of the 251 hostages taken on that day, there are 50 still in captivity.
Actor and comedian Jerry Seinfeld has made a statement about living briefly in the Jewish state and the heartbreak he felt over the Oct. 7 atrocities, saying, "I will stand with Israel." President Donald Trump, meanwhile, recently said recognizing Palestine as a nation and similar pressure on Israel amount to "rewarding Hamas."
What is the US doing in Israel, Gaza?
In terms of actions to stop the humanitarian crisis, the United States pressured Israel to allow aid after it cut off deliveries in March by the United Nations and other groups for 11 weeks because Israeli officials said Hamas was seizing food. The U.N. said those renewed deliveries were a "drop in the ocean" of what was urgently needed.
Now $30 million in U.S. aid is to be delivered through a controversial private, for-profit U.S. and Israel-backed contractor, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Critics say GHF is not getting enough food to people, who are being killed as they try to get help from the aid sites.
Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to travel to Israel on July 31, Thursday, to address the humanitarian crisis. Witkoff called off the most recent efforts to broker a ceasefire deal on July 24, saying Hamas showed "a lack of desire.”
Should the US do more to help Palestinians? Should celebrities be weighing in?
Now we're asking you, our readers, if you think the U.S. government is taking the right actions in terms of Israel and Gaza. And who do you think should be weighing in on the argument? Fill out our form below or send us an email to forum@usatoday.com with the subject line "Forum Gaza." We'll pick a collection of responses to share in a follow-up post.
Here are some questions to help you respond:
- Does the U.S. have a responsibility to do more to end the hunger crisis in Gaza? Why or why not?
- Is it helpful to have celebrities and other people not involved with foreign policy weigh in? Or does it distract? Why or why not?
- How would the recognition of a Palestinian state change the situation?
- What factors about the war in Gaza are not being covered enough in the news?
Joel Burgess is a Voices editor for the Paste BN Network.