Democrats are pressuring Biden to call on Israel to back down
A group of Democratic lawmakers is calling on the Biden administration to call for immediate de-escalation and a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine.
The resolution in the US House of Representatives also calls for the US to send humanitarian assistance and assistance to Gaza “to save as many lives as possible.”
On October 7, Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack on Israel in history. Israel then launched its heaviest airstrikes to date on Gaza. As of Monday, more than 4,000 people had died in the conflict, according to the Associated Press.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, 2,670 Palestinians were killed and 9,700 injured, while over 1,400 Israelis were killed and at least 199 others, including children, were taken hostage by militants, according to the AP.
“While all human life is precious, targeting civilians, regardless of their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law,” the resolution said, acknowledging the rising death toll on both sides of the conflict .
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It adds that “the federal government has immense diplomatic power to save Israeli and Palestinian lives.”
The resolution was announced by the following members of Congress:
- Cori Bush
- Rashida Tlaib
- Andre Carson
- Summer Lee
- Delia C. Ramirez
- Jamaal Bowman
- Bonnie Watson Coleman
- Jesus “Chuy” Garcia
- Jonathan Jackson
- Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
- Ilhan Omar
- Ayanna Pressley
- Nydia Velazquez
Tlaib, one of the more progressive congressmen critical of Israel and its policies, was criticized for her relative silence following the October 7 Hamas attacks.
She later condemned the attacks and said she did not support the attacks and killings of civilians in either Israel or Palestine.
“[The] “The fact that some have suggested otherwise is offensive and based on bigoted assumptions about my faith and ethnicity,” she said on Oct. 11.
Her stance has led to some calls for her to be included in the primary.
Newsweek reached out to congressmen’s offices and the White House via email seeking comment.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
