On Nov. 7, U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I. 1) sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling on him to answer a list of eight questions about humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. The letter was signed by 124 other members of Congress.

In the letter, Amo and the coalition wrote that they welcome reports that humanitarian aid has begun entering Gaza following the Oct. 8 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. But the lawmakers requested the State Department explain how it will ensure that civilians receive that aid, among other details. 

The coalition asked for responses to their questions by Nov. 21. As of Monday afternoon, the State Department has not provided responses to the list of questions, nor confirmation that it received the letter, according to Hayley Gray-Hoehn, a spokesperson for Amo.

The representatives set a two-week deadline because the State Department “has not been responsive on the status of humanitarian aid,” Amo said in a statement to The Herald. He added that the coalition wanted to give the State Department time to compile thorough responses but emphasized that he still hopes to receive answers quickly, since aid delivery is a “critically important” issue.

Around the time the coalition sent the letter, the White House estimated that close to 700 aid trucks were entering Gaza each day, providing household food parcels to more than 1 million people since Oct. 10.

But the World Food Programme reported that only half the necessary food aid was reaching Gaza, with Palestinian relief organizations estimating even lower. In the letter, Amo estimated that from Sept. 1 to Sept. 28, under 26% of the food “required to meet the basic humanitarian needs” of Gazans was delivered.

“Aid should not be controversial,” Amo told The Herald. “The announced ceasefire cannot be the end of the peace process.”

In a May House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting, Amo — who serves as vice ranking member of the committee — questioned Rubio on the Trump administration’s delayed distribution of ready-to-use food, according to a press release from Amo’s office. In July, Amo led another letter addressed to Rubio, condemning him for withholding and destroying 500 tons of emergency food.

While foreign aid “is an issue that impacts people overseas,” it also impacts American jobs, Amo told The Herald, specifically referencing Rhode Island therapeutic food producer Edesia Nutrition, which produces food aid for many malnourished communities worldwide.

Aaron Perrotta ’27, a member of Brown Students for Israel, wrote that he is personally “glad that U.S. lawmakers are holding the administration accountable.”

He said he believes the Israeli government is “not doing enough” to facilitate aid deliveries but added that he hopes the ceasefire will allow more humanitarian relief to reach Gazans.

While other community members and local pro-Palestinian organizations were supportive of the letter’s intentions, they criticized what they see as Amo’s inaction on policies regarding Israel.

Zack Kligler ’20.5, an organizer with Jewish Voice for Peace Rhode Island, said that members of the organization support efforts by members of Congress to push for more aid to reach Gaza, but noted that “it’s not enough.”

“The letter is almost too little, too late,” said Todd Le, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation R.I.

The letter follows U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner ’06 (D-R.I. 2) co-sponsoring the “Block the Bombs Act” in early September, which would restrict weapons transfers to Israel. Amo has not signed onto the bill.

Kligler said that without “calling for an end to U.S. military and financial support for Israel,” Amo falls short of the standards of JVP R.I.

“Elected officials have so much more power to intervene and to stop the genocide that’s happening in Gaza,” Le added.

Get The Herald delivered to your inbox daily.

In mid-September, JVP R.I. collected around 500 postcards signed by R.I. residents encouraging Amo to sign onto the “Block the Bombs Act.” But Kligler said that upon delivering the postcards to Amo, JVP organizers were ushered away.

“He clearly didn’t really want to dig into the conversation,” he added.

In a video posted to Instagram by JVP R.I., Amo is seen receiving the stack of postcards and noting that he has looked at the bill. 

“I appreciate you for being here and thank you for being active and speaking on behalf of folks,” Amo continued in the video.