Despite all the credible evidence to the contrary, the State Department decided that Israel is indeed complying with international law and allowing humanitarian aid to Gaza to enter unimpeded.

Seventeen Democratic senators, led by Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), have warned the State Department that Israeli assurances of compliance with the February memorandum were neither credible nor reliable.

Congress should demand that the administration provide a full and immediate public briefing detailing how the State Department’s decision was reached. It is not too late. This initial decision was only preliminary. Each day since has further proven that the famine is primarily due to Israel’s blockade, and it will almost certainly continue until the May 8 determination deadline.