Keeping the government open is “not a question of preference, it’s a question of necessity,” Reed said.
He further expressed support for a supplemental that ties aid to Israel and Ukraine together, which President Joe Biden requested in a $106 billion package in October.
It’s widely expected that Johnson will not move a Ukraine funding package, despite saying publicly since he took the gavel that he would “bifurcate” Israel and Ukraine aid.
As Israel’s fight against the Hamas militant group continued with no end in sight, the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee emphasized the need for Israel to have a “very precise use of weapons” to minimize civilian harm — warning of the repercussions if the civilian death toll continues to skyrocket in Gaza.
“Ultimately, they’re going to have to separate Hamas from the Palestinian people. If they do not do that, Hamas will transform into something else,” Reed said.
He said he has seen “modest steps” on Israel’s part to minimize civilian casualties, but that the U.S. is continuously reminding the country to conduct itself “according to the rules of war.”
