Twenty-eight Senate Democrats on Sunday issued a statement calling for Israel’s military and Hamas to reach a cease-fire agreement as news reports emerged of another night of devastating Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
The statement, led by Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) was also signed by Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat in leadership, but was not signed by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has remained firm along with President Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in their assertion that Israel’s military is carrying out defensive military action to which it is entitled.
“To prevent any further loss of civilian life and to prevent further escalation of conflict in Israel and the Palestinian territories, we urge an immediate ceasefire,” the 28 senators said in the statement Sunday.
Their call comes as the Biden administration has blocked a joint attempt by the governments of China, Norway and Tunisia to release a statement from the United Nations Security Council calling for an end to the conflict, and as more progressive members of the Democratic Party such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have accused the U.S. of complicity in the carnage.
Media reports and videos on social media Sunday evening showed another devastating barrage of airstrikes unfolding across Gaza City, with some reports indicating that roads and other critical infrastructure were destroyed in the attack.