WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Reps Cori Bush (D-MO), Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), André Carson (D-IN), Summer Lee (D-PA) and Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), alongside Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) announced a resolution urging the Biden administration to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, to send humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza, and to save as many lives as possible. 

“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,” Rep. Bush said in a press release. “War and retaliatory violence doesn’t achieve accountability or justice; it only leads to more death and human suffering. Today I am introducing the Ceasefire Now Resolution, vital legislation that calls for de-escalation and an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Occupied Palestine, and for humanitarian assistance to urgently be delivered to the 2.2 million people under siege and trapped in Gaza. The United States bears a unique responsibility to exhaust every diplomatic tool at our disposal to prevent mass atrocities and save lives. We can’t bomb our way to peace, equality and freedom. With thousands of lives lost and millions more at stake, we need a ceasefire now.”

“We need legislation that saves as many lives as possible, no matter one’s faith or ethnicity,” Rep. Tlaib said. “I am proud to join my colleagues and a coalition of human rights advocates in calling for de-escalation, ceasefire and a strong humanitarian response that prevents more devastating civilian casualties across the region.”

“I’m proud to co-lead this resolution, which calls for a ceasefire to de-escalate this terrible situation,” Rep. Carson said. “Our call for action is clear: Every human life is precious, and no civilian – Israeli or Palestinian – should fear for their life. I condemn the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians, and I also condemn the Israeli government’s cruel response on millions of Palestinians. The answer to violence is not more violence. The answer is not military response and more killing of innocent children and women. Gaza’s 2 million civilian residents – half of whom are children – are particularly vulnerable right now. The Israeli government cut off Gaza’s medical supply, food, fuel, water and electricity; announced plans for ground military operations against civilians; and warned 1 million North Gaza residents to evacuate their homes. Palestinians are already surrounded by long-term military blockades — they have literally nowhere to go. I continue to pray for all families in the region who have lost loved ones, are searching for family members or fear for their lives. Our shared humanity will continue to be my guide.”

“Throughout my time in Congress, I have been clear on my position that a true and lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians can only be achieved through recognition of our interdependence and a commitment to diplomacy,” Rep. Ramirez said. “We must reject the doctrine that only some lives are worth protecting and recognize that the lives, futures and collective safety of Israelis and Palestinians are intertwined. The solutions Congress puts forward and supports should affirm our shared humanity and reject all forms of dehumanization, scapegoating and collective punishment. I am proud to join my colleagues and human rights advocates to urge for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation to make room for diplomacy and lasting peace.”

“The events that have unfolded over the past week in Israel and Gaza are horrifying violations of human rights and international law that have resulted in the devastating loss of thousands of civilian lives,” Rep. Bowman said. “We must do everything in our power to end this ongoing violence. Our actions should proceed on the basis of recognizing our shared humanity, including rejecting violence in all forms and pursuing an urgent ceasefire and de-escalation so we can save civilian lives. I’m proud to cosponsor this resolution with Representatives Tlaib, Bush, Summer Lee, Ramirez and Carson that urges our government to show leadership by preventing an escalating humanitarian crisis. No one should ever have to live in constant fear of violence and unrest, and peace must remain our objective.”

“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,” Rep. Pressley said. “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. 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. Our shared humanity is at stake and we must move with urgency.”

“Hamas’ terrorist attack last week claimed the lives of 1,400 Israelis, while retaliatory strikes have killed over 2,383 Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank,” Rep. Velázquez said. “I mourn for the Israeli and Palestinian lives lost and I believe it is incumbent on the U.S. government to do all it can to prevent more civilian deaths. Without a ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk. I’m proud to join my colleagues to urge the Biden administration to call for an immediate cease-fire to stop the current violence and ensure that desperately needed humanitarian aid can be delivered.”

A copy of this resolution can be found HERE.

The Ceasefire Now Resolution is endorsed by 350.org, About Face: Veterans Against the War, Action Center on Race & the Economy, Adalah Justice Project, the American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine (AFRP), American Muslims for Palestine, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Americans for Justice in Palestine Action, the Arab American Institute, the Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the Center for Civilians in Conflict, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Defense for Children International – Palestine, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), Dream Defenders, EMGAGE Action, Freedom Forward, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, Highlander Research & Education, Hindus for Human Rights, IfNotNow, Institute for Middle Eastern Understanding, the Institute for Policy Studies New Internationalism Project, The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Just Foreign Policy, MADRE, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Movement Law Lab, MPower Change Action Fund, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action, Progressive Jews of St. Louis, Project48, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, ReThinking Foreign Policy, RootsAction.org, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Institute Justice Team, Transgender Law Center, the United Church of Christ, the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), the U.S. Council for Muslim Organizations, Women Cross DMZ and Working Families Party. A list of all endorsement quotes can be found HERE.