Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., was delivering a speech Monday when a group of pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to drown him out, demanding a cease-fire in Israel\u2019s war against Hamas militants in Gaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I want to call out to everybody right now. These final hours. This is what\u2019s on the ballot,\u2019 Booker began his speech. \u2018We should know in New Jersey how privileged we are. There are so many places in our country right now \u2026 where people want to make sure\u2026 that we have\u2026\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Cease-fire now,\u2019 the crowd repeatedly chanted, interrupting Booker\u2019s speech ahead of Election Day.<\/p>\n
\u2018This is what makes America great,\u2019 Booker interjected. \u2018The power to protest. The power to have free speech. The power of America.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the chants continued and grew louder, the venue began playing \u2018We Are Family,\u2019 the 1979 song by Sister Sledge, over clamors of \u2018cease-fire now\u2019 that persisted from the demonstrators.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Booker chanted back, \u2018Column A, all the way,\u2019 meant to show support for Democratic candidates running in New Jersey local and state elections this week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday doubled down on rejecting calls for a cease-fire in Gaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018There will be no cease-fire without the return of the hostages. This should be completely removed from the lexicon,\u2019 Netanyahu told crews at the Ramon air force base in southern Israel, according to Reuters, reiterating the Jewish state\u2019s long-standing position. \u2018We say this to our friends and to our enemies. We will simply continue until we defeat them. We have no alternative.\u2019<\/p>\n
Booker on Monday said he was \u2018calling for a short-term cessation of hostilities that pose high-risk to civilians,\u2019 joining a statement issued together with fellow Democrats Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, of Virginia, Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, of Illinois, Jeff Merkley, of Oregon, Peter Welch, of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, of Massachusetts, Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, Tina Smith, of Minnesota, Chris Murphy, of Connecticut, and Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hampshire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Hamas\u2019 horrific actions cannot be ascribed to all Palestinians,\u2019 the statement said. \u2018Indeed, Palestinian residents of Gaza have often been victimized by Hamas.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018The failure to adequately protect non-combatant civilians risks dramatic escalation of the conflict in the region and imposes severe damage on prospects for peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians,\u2019 the senators said, joining President Biden\u2019s call for a \u2018<\/strong>short-term cessation of hostilities that pose high risk to civilians, aide workers or humanitarian aide delivery\u2019 in Gaza in order to successfully deliver aid to civilians under \u2018strict and necessary oversight.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Two other goals listed are \u2018increased focus on the release of all hostages kidnapped on October 7,\u2019 and \u2018opportunity for broader discussion among Israeli and Palestinian leadership, together with regional and global partners, about long-term strategies to reduce decades-long conflict in the region.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Based on the consensus opinion of U.S. and international aid officials, it is nearly impossible to deliver sufficient humanitarian aid to protect civilian life under current conditions,\u2019 the senators said.\u00a0<\/p>\n