With the Palestinian death toll in Gaza passing 700 and conditions an on-the-ground doctor calls “the closest you come to a massacre,” the United States Senate has passed a non-binding resolution expressing “unwavering” support for Israel and its air and ground strikes on Gaza. With bipartisan sponsors, the resolution, which passed on a voice vote, states Israel has a right to defend itself from Hamas rocket attacks and urges George W. Bush’s administration to pursue a ceasefire with both sides. (The House is expected to pass a similar resolution, co-sponsored by Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner, on Friday.)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar has not yet responded to MnIndy’s query on her vote. Co-sponsor and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel (R-Kentucky) said the Israelis “are responding exactly the same way we would.”

So far, 11 Israelis have reportedly been killed during the 13-day conflict.

More, including text of the resolution, after the jump.

In other developments, the International Committee of the Red Cross accuses Israel of preventing — for four days — aid workers from reaching injured Gazans. Finally granted access to an east Gaza City neighborhood on Wednesday, Red Cross workers made some “shocking” finds:

The statement said a team of four Palestine Red Crescent ambulances accompanied by Red Cross representatives made its way to Zeitoun Wednesday where it “found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses. They were too weak to stand up on their own. One man was also found alive, too weak to stand up. In all, there were at least 12 corpses lying on mattresses.”

The resolution:

Expressing solidarity with Israel in Israel’s defense against terrorism in the Gaza Strip. (Introduced in Senate)

SRES 6 IS

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. RES. 6

Expressing solidarity with Israel in Israel’s defense against terrorism in the Gaza Strip.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 6, 2009

Mr. VITTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing solidarity with Israel in Israel’s defense against terrorism in the Gaza Strip.

Whereas the state of Israel is the greatest ally of the United States in the Middle East;

Whereas the Hamas terror organization’s charter calls for the destruction of the state of Israel;

Whereas Palestinian terrorists of the Islamic Jihad and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, recently have fired hundreds of rockets at civilian targets in southern Israel, ending a 6-month ceasefire with Israel, in declaration and in deed;

Whereas, during the 6-month `state of calm’, the Government of Israel allowed the entry of approximately 17,000 truckloads of humanitarian aid supplies into the Gaza Strip, while Palestinian terrorists launched 538 rockets and mortars into Israel;

Whereas the latest terrorist attacks on Israel took place only days after the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1850, which unanimously declared support for the peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis;

Whereas, since the most recent terrorist attacks and its military operation that began on December 27, 2008, the Government of Israel has allowed the entry of hundreds of truckloads of humanitarian aid supplies into the Gaza Strip, in full coordination with donor Arab countries and international aid organizations, including the Red Cross, out of respect for human rights and human life and in an effort to minimize the hardship and suffering of the Palestinian people;

Whereas the military operations of the Government of Israel constitute an effort to defend the people of Israel, which is the Government’s moral duty in response to the unspeakable horrors of ongoing, indiscriminate terrorism, and are aimed only at dimantling the terrorist infrastructure; and

Whereas hundreds of innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians tragically have been killed on account of ongoing escalations of violence initiated by Palestinian terrorist organizations: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate–

(1) stands in solidarity with the Government of Israel as it takes necessary steps to provide security to its people;

(2) remains committed to Israel’s right to self-defense and supports additional assistance from the United States to help Israel defend itself;

(3) condemns the end of the ceasefire by Hamas;

(4) condemns the firing of rockets into civilian areas by the terrorist groups of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad;

(5) urges all Arab states to declare strong opposition to terrorism and terrorist attacks on civilians;

(6) urges all parties in the Middle East to pursue lasting peace in the region; and

(7) expresses its commitment to working to promote economic relations, bilateral trade, and partnerships in technology and alternative energy between the United States and Israel in order to stimulate the economies of both the United States and Israel in this time of crisis.