Last Tuesday, Oct. 31 MSNBC decided to highlight the results of a Data for Progress poll released Oct. 20, which found that 66% of Americans agree that the U.S. should call for a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, with Democrats the most in favor, at a whopping 80%. A majority of both Republicans (56%) and independents (57%) agree: the United States should be pressing for a ceasefire.
But only 18 Congress members have called for a ceasefire. Illinois’ Sen. Dick Durbin (D) became [the first Senator](https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/dick-durbin-gaza-ceasefire-israel-hamas-war to call for a ceasefire on Nov. 2, and that hesitantly. Durbin told CNN that a ceasefire is needed, but added that it must start with the release of the hostages and both sides agreeing. “Let’s face it. This has gone on for decades. Whatever the rationale from the beginning, it has now reached an intolerable level. We need to have a resolution in the Middle East that gives some promise for the future,” he added.
Other Senators, reflecting the pressure, but too cowardly to even say that much, are beginning to urge “a humanitarian pause.” The same day, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) called for a mutually agreed-upon humanitarian pause in the fighting in Gaza, admitting that “the scale of human suffering right now is untenable.”
On Nov. 2, there were 14 Democratic Senators who released a joint statement calling for “a short-term cessation of hostilities” in Gaza, in order to get aid to civilians and aiding the release of hostages taken by Hamas. The letter was signed by Virginia’s Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Peter Welch of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. Durbin also signed.
These august cowards acknowledge that “the 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. Based 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.”
Protesters have been sitting in many of those Senators offices, in D.C. and in their districts, demanding not a “humanitarian pause,” but an immediate ceasefire to end the genocide.
Keep it up!
