Resolution Introduced in House Urging Immediate Deescalation and Cease-Fire in Israel and Occupied Palestine
The House of Representatives saw a bold move on Monday as 13 Democrats, led by Reps. Cori Bush, Rashida Tlaib, André Carson, Summer Lee, and Delia Ramirez, introduced a resolution calling for an immediate deescalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine. The resolution also urged the Biden administration to send humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the situation is dire.
During a press conference, Rep. Tlaib emotionally stated, “They are running out of body bags. We all know collective punishment of Palestinians is a war crime. The answer to war crimes can never be more war crimes.” She criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the majority of Congress for not even mentioning the possibility of a ceasefire.
This resolution comes after two previous efforts in the House fell short of calling for an end to violence. The first bipartisan resolution did not even mention Palestinian civilians, while the second letter urged for access to food and water in Gaza but also did not call for a ceasefire.
The group J Street, known for its “pro-peace, pro-Israel” stance, threatened to withhold endorsements from members who did not sign onto the initial resolution. This move has caused frustration among some staffers who feel that the organization’s mission has been compromised.
The resolution has garnered support from 13 representatives, including well-known names like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley. As the situation in the region continues to escalate, the call for an immediate deescalation and ceasefire is becoming more urgent.
