Dozens of Democrats backing ‘temporary pause’ in Gaza fighting for hostage release

Nearly 30 Democratic lawmakers have sent a letter to President Biden backing a “temporary pause” in fighting in Gaza to ease the release of remaining hostages and to provide aid for civilians displaced by the war.

The letter said the representatives are “encouraged by the news of progress” in hostage and cease-fire negotiations and applaud the Biden administration’s “work with Israel, Egypt, Qatar and others to advance progress.”

The Democrats are calling for a temporary pause to “not only help release the hostages and give desperately needed relief to the millions of civilians displaced by this war, it can also open a path to permanently ending the conflict.”

Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) were joined by 27 Democratic colleagues in urging the president to continue talks of a temporary pause in fighting so food, water, medicine and other essential supplies can be delivered to civilians in the region.

On Monday, Biden had said a cease-fire could start before next week and stressed that talks among the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a deal.

But Biden backtracked Thursday, saying a cease-fire probably won’t start before next week, with more civilian deaths in Gaza likely complicating negotiations. Biden said he was on a call with people in the region and is hopeful.

More than 100 Palestinians were killed Thursday in Gaza City while they were trying to get humanitarian aid, the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry reported.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas that began in early October, more than 30,000 people have died in Gaza, the ministry said.

Hope for a better future for Gaza will open the door for movement toward a two-state solution, the letter’s signatories argue. The letter acknowledged that peace between the Israelis and Palestinians cannot happen “as long as Hamas, PIJ and other terrorist groups reign with terror in Gaza or threaten Israel and its people.”

The Democrats added that peace also can’t be achieved without Israel recognizing the legitimacy of Palestinian aspirations for freedom. They argued the path to peace must be “supported and reinforced” by U.S. leadership.

“We resolutely believe that peace is possible–that a Jewish democratic state of Israel can live with safety and security alongside a viable, democratic Palestinian state,” the letter concluded. “We are fully committed to work with your Administration, Israel and the Palestinians to move toward that dream.”