I recently returned from a congressional trip to Israel where my colleagues and I met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and Palestinian leaders in Ramallah to discuss the ongoing conflict in the region.

Under international law, Israel has the indisputable right to defend herself from Hamas’s brutal and orchestrated terrorist attacks that targeted civilian sites and raided homes with the intent to kill and harm thousands of innocent men, women, and children. Since the attack, over 100 hostages still remain in captivity by Hamas, among them include American citizens.

While the United States and the global community must continue to condemn the abhorrent actions of Hamas, Israel must uphold their promises to abide by international humanitarian law and defend herself without targeting innocent civilians as a part of any military campaign. Additionally, the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza must be urgently addressed, and we must find a way to deliver life-saving support to the millions of conflict-afflicted civilians who are in need of clean water, food, medicine, and other essential aid.

Fostering diplomatic dialogue and facilitating de-escalation efforts is the only way to reach a bilateral ceasefire, ensure the release of all remaining hostages, alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and achieve the ultimate goal of a permanent two-state solution. To ensure long-term stability and security in the region, we must use diplomacy as a tool to bring both sides to the table for meaningful negotiations towards a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement.