WASHINGTON — Last night, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined PBS News Hour to discuss the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and her vote for the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block weapons sales to Israel. During the interview, Ranking Member Shaheen emphasized the need to both address the humanitarian situation in Gaza by getting aid to the Palestinian people and securing the return of all the hostages to put an end to this nightmare for the hostages' loved ones.
Click HERE to listen to the full interview.
Key quotes from Ranking Member Shaheen:
“All you have to do is watch the news reports coming out of Gaza to see the people who are desperate for food. Israel needs to open up those humanitarian corridors. We need to get food in. We need to get it distributed in a way that doesn't harm Palestinians in the process of getting the food. And so, I think it's important to send the message to Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government that things need to change.”
“We need to see many more aid convoys, and we need to make sure that the food gets distributed in a way that doesn't have Hamas or some other group taking that food away from the people who really need it, who are starving.”
“But not only do we need to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but there are still hostages. And the remains of hostages who are still being held by Hamas – we need to get them back to their families and put an end to this horrible nightmare that those families are living through.”
You can read the full transcript of Ranking Member Shaheen’s interview below:
PBS: A late-night Congressional vote fell short of the votes needed to block weapons sales to Israel as it continues its war in Gaza in response to the October 7 attacks. But in a dramatic shift, more than half of Democrats supported the measure, reaching its highest level of support to date. Senator Jeanne Shaheen is the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She was one of those yes votes and she joins us now from Capitol hill. Senator, welcome back to the News Hour, thanks for joining us.
Senator Shaheen: It's nice to be with you.
PBS: So, back in April you voted against the weapons block. Last night you voted for it. Why the change?
Senator Shaheen: I think the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. All you have to do is watch the news reports coming out of Gaza to see the people who are desperate for food. Israel needs to open up those humanitarian corridors. We need to get food in. We need to get it distributed in a way that doesn't harm Palestinians in the process of getting the food. And so, I think it's important to send the message to Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government that things need to change.
PBS: So, is this about sending a message at this moment in time or does it represent some bigger policy shift?
Senator Shaheen: Well, I think we have to wait and see how the government responds. But right now, they have made some slight progress in the last week, really, since the weekend, and are talking about allowing more humanitarian aid in. But we need to see many more aid convoys, and we need to make sure that the food gets distributed in a way that doesn't have Hamas or some other group taking that food away from the people who really need it, who are starving.
PBS: So, back in April you cited not wanting to upset what you called, “the delicate negotiations to restore the ceasefire” as part of the reason that you didn’t support the weapons sales block. Now, should we take your yes vote now to mean that you don’t have confidence in any ceasefire talks being restored?
Senator Shaheen: Well, sadly, as we've seen in the last week or so, the ceasefire negotiations fell apart in Doha, and the United States’ team came home. So hopefully, Mr. Witkoff is going to go back, they're going to be able to get back to the negotiating table and come to an agreement. But not only do we need to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but there are still hostages. And the remains of hostages who are still being held by Hamas – we need to get them back to their families and put an end to this horrible nightmare that those families are living through.
PBS: You mention not seeing enough action from Israel to allow in more humanitarian aid. We saw from President Trump this week, saying based on the images he’s seen from Gaza, “you can’t fake it” – meaning the images – and he says his Administration is going to be even more involved. We know Israeli Ambassador Mike Huckabee and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are on the ground meeting with Netanyahu, they’re going to visit Gaza themselves – even as Mr. Witkoff was pulled from the ceasefire talks. What do you think is the role that the U.S. should be playing right now? What is their responsibility right now?
Senator Shaheen: Well, the responsibility is the Israeli government's responsibility. But what I think we can do in the United States, and I was pleased to hear President Trump's comments because I think it heightens the concern that the world has, and looking at pictures coming out of Gaza, looking at starving children who need that humanitarian aid, and they need it now. So, I think that's helpful. I think anything that Envoy Witkoff and Ambassador Huckabee can do to be very clear with the Israeli government that the United States has an interest in seeing humanitarian aid get into Gaza is important.
PBS: And do you think that they should threaten to withhold weapons sales to Israel in order to force some of that action you want to see? Is that a line you want to see them take?
Senator Shaheen: Well, I think there are a variety of ways in which we can incentivize and provide carrots and sticks to Israel to try and address the situation. I hope they will discuss a full range of those, and that's certainly one of them.
PBS: I also need to ask you about a Republican member of Congress this week, Marjorie Taylor Greene, saying that the conduct by Israel in Gaza in her view is genocide. She was the first Republican member of Congress to say that, and a Trump loyalist. Do you agree with her assessment?
Senator Shaheen: I think we have a dire, as I said, a horrific humanitarian situation in Gaza. We have people who are starving. I think the Israeli government bears some responsibility for what's happening there, and we need to see that change. And I don't care how do you want to label it. The issue is: how do we make sure people are not starving to death, that starvation is not being used as a weapon of war. And for all of us who are watching what's happening here, there are real questions about the actions of Netanyahu government.
PBS: In the 30 seconds or so I have left, based on the vote you saw last night, are you seeing some larger shift among Democrats in terms of how they view Israel and their conduct in Gaza right now?
Senator Shaheen: I think people are more and more concerned about what's happening there. You can't watch the pictures coming out of Gaza, you can't see the stories of the children who are suffering, the people who have been killed when they're trying to get to the food and not be concerned about what's happening there. And I think that's what's being reflected in the vote last night.
PBS: Senator Jeanne Shaheen, thank you so much for taking the time to join us tonight, we appreciate it.
Senator Shaheen: Thank you.
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