Pressley backs The Squad
Joins call for ceasefire; Auchincloss says too
A week after U.S. Sen. Ed Markey was booed for his de-escalation remarks, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley has joined her fellow Squad members in calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Israel and Gaza following the Hamas terrorist attacks and deadly fallout.
Pressley signed on to a progressive Congressional resolution yesterday that urges the Biden administration to support an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. Hamas is still holding nearly 200 hostages in Gaza, according to the Israeli military.
The Boston congresswoman joined Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, Jamaal Bowman and other members of Congress in backing the “Ceasefire Now Resolution.” Thirteen representatives are named in the resolution.
“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.
“With over 2,600 Palestinians, more than 1,400 Israelis, and 30 Americans killed, scores of others wounded, hostages’ lives at risk, and millions in Gaza lacking food, electricity, and clean drinking water, we must pursue an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians and save lives,” she added.
The Israeli government declared war against Hamas following the terrorist attacks last weekend, and Israel has been launching air strikes against the terrorist group. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., Canada and the European Union.
Hamas took Israeli hostages following the terrorist attacks.
“The United States has a moral obligation to get Americans in Gaza and Israel safely home, save Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives, and ensure humanitarian assistance is provided to Gaza,” Pressley said. “Our shared humanity is at stake and we must move with urgency.”
The House resolution urges the Biden administration to immediately call for and facilitate de-escalation and a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
The resolution also calls on the Biden administration to send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. The Israeli military ordered a complete siege on Gaza after the Hamas terrorist attacks.
Last week, Markey during a pro-Israel rally in Boston was booed when he pushed for deescalation.
Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss at that Boston rally said calls for de-escalation were premature with Hamas taking scores of hostages.
Auchincloss said yesterday, “Israel should cease fire when the hostages are returned and when the terrorists who murdered children are dead.”