U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt took the lead in a letter this week to Egypt’s Ambassador to the U.S. Motaz Zahran.

The letter requested Egypt allow the U.S., Israel, and other allies to aid Palestinian refugees fleeing Gaza and asked that Egypt accept a portion of those refugees.

“Israel has every right to defend itself from Hamas’ terrorism,” Aderholt (R-Haleyville) said. “Egypt has an opportunity to save lives by taking a major leadership role and help establish safe zones for non-combatants, particularly women and children, seeking refuge from Hamas.

“As Hamas continues to put targets on their own civilians, take hostages, use Gazans as human shields, and embed their command centers within civilian communities, Egypt has an opportunity to protect civilian life and work with the U.S. and Israel. Moreover, a productive approach from Egypt that secures temporary zones for the vulnerable and establishes secure conduits for aid that will help Israel root out Hamas and protect its national security.”

Part of the letter also said, “In order to protect noncombatants and civilians in Gaza from Hamas’s brutality, we call on the Egyptian government to urgently work with the United States, Israel, and relevant international stakeholders to take all measured and appropriate steps to support and facilitate safe zones in southern Gaza and enable a steady supply of humanitarian assistance to flow from Egypt towards those in the safe zones until the civilian population is able to return to the north of the Strip.”

The letter stressed the importance of Egypt’s role in the situation.

“We are optimistic that the international community will participate in providing financial assistance for this humanitarian situation, but Egypt’s robust participation is essential to the success and the safety and security of up to two million Gazans who are desperately in need of such support,” Aderholt wrote. “Further, those states that have been long-standing intermediaries for Hamas, especially Qatar and Turkey, should be called upon to help as well.”

Since the onset of the Hamas-Israel war, hundreds of thousands of refugees have began leaving the Gaza area.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.