During an interview that aired on CBS’ “Face the Nation” this morning, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., and ranking member Marco Rubio, R-Fla., discussed the importance of the U.S. continuing to send humanitarian aid to Gaza and expressed doubts that the end of the Israel-Hamas war is within reach.
Asked whether Biden’s announcement that the U.S. is building a port in an effort to deliver more humanitarian aid into Gaza is a good decision, Warner said he thinks it’s “important” for the U.S. to continue to show that it has been the “largest single donor to humanitarian efforts for years in the region.”
“I mean, the airlift approach is more symbolic than actually getting relief to most folks,” Warner said. “I think the right thing to do in terms of particularly as we go into Ramadan, hopefully lowering some of the tension, but also shows America’s concern for some of the humanitarian costs in the region.”
Rubio said that “everybody’s in favor of helping innocent civilians who are caught in the crossfire of any conflict,” before going on to note the challenges in delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, which he largely attributed to a system of tunnels built by Hamas.
“Hamas has built a system of tunnels — it’s expensive. I mean, I don’t care if they got a great deal on the concrete. It’s expensive to build this extensive system of tunnels, millions of dollars,” Rubio said. “That’s money that could have gone on to create an economy, to feed people, to build hospitals and serve civilians. They didn’t do it.”
Pressed on whether they agree with Netanyahu that total victory will be achieved within weeks, Warner disagreed.
“Meeting with folks in Israel, in the military community, in the intelligence community, the idea that you’re going to eliminate every Hamas fighter, I don’t think is a realistic goal,” Warner said.
Rubio said that it’s “possible to achieve a situation which Hamas does not have the capability” to launch an attack against Israel similar to Oct. 7, but expressed concerns over the possibility of another Iran-allied group stepping in.
“That doesn’t mean Hezbollah doesn’t step in and take over now as a result, that doesn’t mean that a new Hamas offshoot wouldn’t re-create it,” Rubio said. “This is an ongoing challenge.”
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