Reps. Brian Baird (D-WA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) arrived in the Gaza Strip in recent hours, becoming the first U.S. governmental representatives to visit the region in more than three years, according to a joint release from their offices. (Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry [D-MA] was also visiting Gaza today as part of a broader regional swing.)
Baird and Ellison met with representatives of the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, but neither they nor Kerry will meet with Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007. The House Dems’ trip was not officially sanctioned by the Obama administration. Hopefully, however, it will mark the beginning of a greater recognition on Capitol Hill of the humanitarian costs the Palestinians have paid amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.
