Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) reportedly called for U.S. intervention to fracture the Israeli "blockade" of Gaza and added "We ought to bring roll-on, roll-off ships and roll them correct to the beach and bring the relief supplies in, in our version of the Berlin airlift."

The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), in a letter, called on President Barack Obama and Secretary of Say Hillary Clinton to repudiate the remarks. “We question you to repudiate the congressman's remarks and declare that the United States will not hold action against Israel nor bring diplomatic pressure to bear against Israel in an exploit to force Israel to take unilateral actions that could compromise her security in the face of the continued threat of Palestinian terrorism and rocket attacks emanating from Hamas-controlled Gaza.”

In January, Baird was one of the 54 congressional Democrats who endorsed a letter to President Obama, asking the President to pressure Israel to lift security measures along the Gaza border