A group of Democratic House members are introducing a resolution that calls on the Biden administration to push for an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Palestine. The legislation also calls on Biden to promptly send humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The resolution is led by Representatives Cori Bush (MO-D), Rashida Tlaib (MI-D), André Carson (IN-D), Summer Lee (PA-D), and Delia Ramirez (IL-D.) So far, it is backed by Reps. Jamaal Bowman (NY-D), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-D), Chuy García (IL-D), Jonathan Jackson (IL-D), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-D), Ilhan Omar (MN-D), Ayanna Pressley (MA-D), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-D).
“I am grieving for every Palestinian, Israeli, and American life lost to this violence, and my heart breaks for all those who will be forever traumatized because of it. War and retaliatory violence doesn’t achieve accountability or justice; it only leads to more death and human suffering,” said Rep. Bush in a statement. “Today I am introducing the Ceasefire Now Resolution, vital legislation that calls for de-escalation and an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Occupied Palestine, and for humanitarian assistance to urgently be delivered to the 2.2 million people under siege and trapped in Gaza. The United States bears a unique responsibility to exhaust every diplomatic tool at our disposal to prevent mass atrocities and save lives. We can’t bomb our way to peace, equality, and freedom. With thousands of lives lost and millions more at stake, we need a ceasefire now.”
“Vengeance should not be a foreign policy doctrine,” said Rep. Pressley on a call with journalists. “Our shared humanity is at stake and we must move with urgency.”
The legislative effort is backed by dozens of human rights groups, including the Adalah Justice Project, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), the Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), the Center for Constitutional Rights, Defense for Children International – Palestine, IfNotNow, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, and the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR).
“For decades, the U.S. has ignored the rights of Palestinians and their just
and legitimate demands,” said AMP Executive Director Dr. Osama Abu Irshaid in a statement. “There will be no peace, security, and stability in the Middle East region without the recognition of the rights of Palestinians to freedom, justice, equality, dignity, and their right to self-determination. The Biden administration and Congress have a moral responsibility to avoid further bloodshed and limit the catastrophic human suffering resulting from the conflict.”
Last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken deleted a statement on social media calling for a ceasefire. “Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and I spoke further on Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel,” he had originally tweeted. “I encouraged Tükiye’s advocacy for a cease-fire and the release of all hostages held by Hamas immediately.”
The State Department’s Office of Palestinian Affairs also deleted a post that called on Israel and Hamas to “refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks.”
Shortly after these messages were removed the HuffPost reported that the State Department had circulated a memo instructing diplomats to refrain from using the terms “de-escalation/ceasefire,” “end to violence/bloodshed” and “restoring calm” in press released.
Colombia expels Israel envoy over Gaza war spat
Colombia on Monday demanded that Israel’s ambassador leave the South American country amid a worsening spat over President Gustavo Petro’s remarks on the war with Hamas.
Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva said the envoy, Gali Dagan, should “at a minimum, apologize and leave” after criticising Petro’s comparison of Israeli attacks on Gaza with the Nazi persecution of the Jews.
https://www.newarab.com/news/colombia-expels-israel-envoy-over-gaza-war-spat
I find it very curious and at the same time disturbing that the only Members of Congress who had the courage and spine to cosponsor this absolutely critical resolution were all people of color without a single white MC (8 African-Americans, 4 Hispanics, 1 Palestinian, 13 in total). What this indicates is that we of the Palestinan, Arab, Muslim, and Palestine solidarity movement communities have two major tasks ahead of us: 1. Win over more legislators to the cause of Free Palestine, 2. Better understand the causitive factors driving the almost complete absence of white legislators in support of Free Palestine and win them over to our noble cause.
No doubt the good intentions are there. The problem is with all those who have turned a blind eye to israel’s shenanigans for so many years, for fear of being labelled ‘anti Semite’.
Shouldn’t the demand for a ceasefire be directed at Hamas? And the release of kidnapped hostages? And what about a condemnation of Hamas atrocities?