Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) is leading a coalition of progressive representatives in calling for President Biden to work toward an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas amid mounting concerns over an Israeli invasion into the Gaza Strip.
Israel has promised to eliminate Hamas in response to a surprise attack earlier this month that left more than 1,400 Israelis dead, and has already pounded the Gaza Strip with missiles while telling residents of northern Gaza to flee for safety.
Bush introduced the Ceasefire Now Resolution on Monday, urging Biden push for and facilitate a cease-fire and de-escalation of the conflict and “promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”
Joining Bush as co-sponsors are Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.), Jesús “Chuy” García (Ill.), Jonathan Jackson (Ill.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) and Nydia Velázquez (N.Y.).
Hamas also took almost 200 hostages during its attack across Israel’s border, during which militants slaughtered attendees of a music festival and raided border villages. From Oct. 7-12, Israel dropped 6,000 bombs into Gaza, according to CNN. Israeli leaders have also blocked fuel and water from entering Gaza and closed all shared border crossings.
By Monday, more than 2,700 Palestinians had been killed in the violence, according to Gaza health authorities.
“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,” Bush said in a statement introducing her resolution.
“War and retaliatory violence doesn’t achieve accountability or justice; it only leads to more death and human suffering,” she added. “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.”
The lawmakers join the United Nations and other humanitarian groups in calling for more humanitarian aid to be sent to the Gaza Strip and warning of the dire consequences of an Israeli ground offensive on Gaza’s civilian population.
Speaking on CBS’s “60 Minutes” this weekend, Biden said Israeli occupation of Gaza would be a “big mistake” and that “Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people.”
Tlaib, who is of Palestinian heritage and has faced death threats for her unwavering support of Palestinians, said she is “proud” to be a co-sponsor for Bush’s legislation.
“We need legislation that saves as many lives as possible, no matter one’s faith or ethnicity,” Tlaib said in a statement. She added that legislation around the Palestinian-Israeli conflict needs to prevent “devastating” civilian casualties.
Bush’s resolution comes after the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), which includes her and several other co-sponsors, also issued a statement calling for immediate humanitarian relief.
Though the CBC said it stands firm behind Israel’s right to defend itself, it added that there are “millions of innocent Palestinians who are not responsible for the brutal attacks and atrocities of Hamas terrorists.”
It’s unclear if Bush’s resolution will make it far. Apart from Republicans struggling to elect a new Speaker, putting all legislation on hold, Republicans and Democrats alike have largely avoided any statements or actions that could be perceived as critical of Israel.
Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) said calls for a cease-fire were “disgusting” before Israel has been able to mount an offensive. Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), wore his Israeli Defense Forces uniform on the House floor last week, comparing it to the Palestinian flag outside Tlaib’s office.
“As the only member to serve with both the United States Army and the Israel Defense Forces, I will always stand with Israel,” Mast wrote on X. “Tlaib’s got her flag. I got my uniform.”
Pressley said the “shared humanity” of all is at stake if humanitarian aid is not sent swiftly to the Gaza Strip.
“The loss of every Palestinian, Israeli, and American life we have seen in the past week is absolutely devastating and the grief and trauma in our communities is palpable,” Pressley said in a statement.
“The murder of innocent Israeli civilians by Hamas is horrific and unacceptable. And the murder of innocent Palestinian civilians is a horrific and unacceptable response.”