Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., on Monday became the second Senate Democrat to urge a cease-fire in Israel\u2019s war against the terrorist group Hamas.<\/p>\n
\u2018I am calling for a ceasefire \u2014 a cessation of hostilities by both sides,\u2019 Merkley posted on X. \u2018To endure, the ceasefire and the following negotiations must accomplish other essential objectives, including the release of all hostages and a massive influx of humanitarian aid.\u2019<\/p>\n
Merkley joins the number two ranking Senate Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and several far-left House lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who have each called for a cease-fire in Gaza.<\/p>\n
Durbin said earlier this month that both sides must agree to any cessation of hostilities and that Hamas must release every hostage taken captive in the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel. More than 1,200 Israelis were massacred on that day when Hamas terrorists infiltrated the country from Gaza and indiscriminately tortured, raped and murdered innocents. Some 240 people were taken hostage back to Gaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Israel responded to the attacks by declaring war on Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces has since bombarded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and conducted ground operations to free hostages, wipe out the terrorists and erase their capability to attack Israel.<\/p>\n
Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been caught in the crossfire. Israel and U.S. officials say Hamas hides terrorist military targets behind civilian infrastructure including homes, schools and hospitals. The Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza claims more than 12,700 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, but Hamas does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, and those numbers cannot be independently verified.<\/p>\n
With casualty numbers rising, United Nations officials have declared a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and world leaders have demanded an immediate cease-fire. Israel, with support from President Biden, has so far refused these demands, insisting that an end to hostilities would be surrender to Hamas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a statement released on Medium, Merkley condemned Israeli \u2018de facto annexation\u2019 of Palestinian territory and said that while he supports the Jewish state\u2019s right to self-defense, he is \u2018deeply disturbed\u2019 by how Israel has conducted the campaign since Oct. 7.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Israel has unleashed a bombing campaign on Gaza of phenomenal ferocity. Israel defends this campaign as necessary to strike Hamas wherever necessary. But the impression the world has been left with is one of indiscriminate bombing,\u2019 Merkley said.<\/p>\n
\u2018Air strikes have leveled much of Gaza City and hit crowded refugee camps, schools, hospitals, and even shelters operated by the United Nations,\u2019 he continued. \u2018The result is mass carnage.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
Comparing Israeli actions to \u2018massive mistakes\u2019 made by America after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Merkley warned that Israel is losing international support and said weeks of cease-fire are needed to evacuate Palestinian civilians, deliver humanitarian aid and allow foreign citizens who wish to leave the territory an opportunity to do so.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Hamas must release all the hostages without conditions and lay down their arms. And Hamas, which continues to defend the savage slaughter of Israeli citizens on October 7th and advocate for the obliteration of Israel, has to go. It can no longer have operational control of Gaza,\u2019 Merkley said.\u00a0<\/p>\n