More than a dozen far-left House Democrats called for an end Monday to the nine-day-old war in Israel with a resolution that referred to the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack as “armed violence” and made no mention of American hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
The “Ceasefire Now Resolution,” — introduced by Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Andre Carson of Indiana, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania and Delia Ramirez of Illinois — demands that the Biden administration “immediately call for and facilitate deescalation [sic] and a cease-fire to urgently end the current violence” and “promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”
“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.
“War and retaliatory violence doesn’t achieve accountability or justice; it only leads to more death and human suffering. We can’t bomb our way to peace, equality, and freedom.”
The bill’s backers also include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, and Nydia Velazquez of New York; Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts; Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey; Chuy Garcia and Jonathan Jackson of Illinois; and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
Supporters of Israel blasted the resolution, noting it came as the Jewish state prepared to conduct a ground invasion to destroy Hamas after it murdered more than 1,300 people — including at least 30 Americans.
“‘We must do everything we can to save lives,'” the Israel War Room X account tweeted in response to Bush. “What do you think Israel is doing? It’s working to dismantle a terrorist organization that has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians from all over the world.”
“Why aren’t you calling for Hamas to release the hostages?” user Dan Goldwasser wrote.
“Calling for an end to violent action after a bunch of Jews have been murdered but before they can retaliate against those responsible, isn’t humane or neutral,” another user wrote. “It’s pro-terrorist.”
“Where’s at least the call to release the hostages?” asked user Joel Weingart. “Israel has a duty to protect its citizens from Nazi-Hamas.
“The Allies fought the Nazis because it was necessary to stop them. America would never have considered a ceasefire with the Nazis during WW2.”
“Armed conflict claimed those Israeli lives eh?” added another Twitter commentator. “These people are anti American [sic]. They would consign us all to death if they didn’t have the same political belief or preferred skin color.”
The surprise attack by the Palestinian terror group ravaged kibbutzim across southern Israel, with women, children, and the elderly among the victims.
Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip with near-continuous airstrikes for more than a week ahead of a prospective ground invasion, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to “demolish Hamas.”
In addition to the 30 Americans confirmed dead, 13 are unaccounted for, according to the State Department.
The Biden administration has confirmed that US citizens are among those held hostage by Hamas, but has not given an exact number.
Many of the radicals backing the resolution called on Israel to show restraint in the hours following the attack, earning a rebuke from the White House.
“I’ve seen some of those statements this weekend, and we’re going to continue to be very clear. We believe they’re wrong, we believe they’re repugnant, and we believe they’re disgraceful,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Oct. 10.
“Our condemnation belongs squarely with terrorists who have brutally murdered, raped, kidnapped hundreds, hundreds of Israelis. There can be no equivocation about that. There are not two sides here. There are not two sides.”
Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American elected to Congress, has also received backlash in the past for describing Israel as having an “apartheid system.”
Omar has been criticized by her fellow Democrats for antisemitic statements, including an implication that supporters of the Jewish state were being paid.
President Biden and Democratic leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), have been vocal backers of Israel.
Schumer told The Post Sunday that “if the threat of Hamas is not eliminated, they will do it again,” and added he wished supporters of Hamas and the Palestinian cause could listen to the families of those held hostage.
“Every one, every one of the senators was crying, all the people were crying,” he recalled. “And I said, ‘I wish those who think Israel is wrong would just listen to these parents and the anguish they face through a brutal, brutal Hamas.'”
