Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin on Thursday called for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, becoming the first senator to demand an end to the Jewish state’s military operations against the Palestinian terrorist group.
Durbin (D-Ill.), the second-ranking member of the Senate, said his support for a ceasefire depends on the “immediate release” of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“I think so,” the Illinois Democrat said during an interview with CNN when asked if the time had come for a ceasefire. “At least in the context of both parties agreeing. For example, the release of those kidnapped should be part of this: immediate release.”
“That should be the start,” Durbin added. “An effort must be made to engage in conversation between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Durbin said his support for a ceasefire depends on the “immediate release” of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. REUTERS
The senator’s support for a ceasefire is a departure from language used by President Biden, who on Wednesday called for a “pause” in the fighting to “give time to remove prisoners.”
Durbin, 78, said he “has not communicated with the White House” about a possible suspension of hostilities.
Durbin, who last month was among 99 senators who signed a resolution “supporting Israel against terrorism,” argued that the conflict in the Middle East has reached “an intolerable level.”
Several far-left legislators in the House of Representatives have been demanding a ceasefire in the war for weeks.MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
“Let’s face it, this has been going on for decades,” he said. “Whatever the reasoning was from the beginning, it has now reached an intolerable level. “We need to have a resolution in the Middle East that offers some promise for the future.”
Several far-left House lawmakers, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and pro-Palestinian protesters have been demanding a ceasefire for weeks.
The United Nations also passed a non-binding resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza.
Senator Chris Murphy urged Israel to “reconsider its approach” in Gaza. AP
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) also virtually called for a ceasefire Thursday, urging Israel to “reconsider your approach” in Gaza amid what he called “an unacceptable level of harm to civilians.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Thursday called Democrats’ demands for a ceasefire “disturbing” and unnecessary, as the House considered a bill to provide to Israel 14.3 billion dollars in military aid.
“There was a ceasefire because before October 7, Hamas broke it and Israelis suffered unspeakable acts of evil,” Johnson said.
“Israel does not need a ceasefire. “She needs her allies to stop playing politics and give her support now, and that is what we are doing,” she added.
Israel declared war on Hamas in response to the October 7 terrorist attack on the Jewish state that left more than 1,400 dead.
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