Nearly all of 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 congressional delegation is calling for 鈥渉umanitarian pauses鈥� in the Middle East as part of the U.S. strategy to ensure the flow of more aid into Gaza as well as the release of hostages captured by Hamas.
That support for a temporary halt, which aligns with a growing number of Democrats in Congress and the Biden administration, comes as the U.S. navigates the threats posed to civilian life in what could be a protracted conflict between Israel and Hamas.
No federal lawmakers from 黑料吃瓜网 have joined the group of Democrats in their party that is pushing for a ceasefire. They have repeatedly affirmed Israel鈥檚 right to defend itself and hold Hamas accountable for its attack on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,400 people in Israel and took a few hundred hostage.
But they are voicing concerns about Palestinian civilians鈥� ability to relocate to avoid Israeli airstrikes, plus the need for more access to food, water and fuel in Gaza. And they view a strategic pause in those strikes and fighting as a way of negotiating the safe release of Israeli and non-Israeli hostages captured by Hamas, which includes those with ties to 黑料吃瓜网.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., was the first in the state鈥檚 delegation to publicly announce his support for a pause in the region. He recently authored a statement with nine other Democratic senators asking for swift aid to Gaza 鈥� where thousands have died 鈥� and the 鈥渋mmediate, unconditional release鈥� of hostages.
Murphy has been vocal about pressing the Biden administration to increase humanitarian aid. According to the White House, the president urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ramp up the flow of aid into Gaza over the weekend. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said 100 trucks are expected to go to the area a day but believes more assistance is needed.
While neither senator supports a ceasefire, Murphy argued that Israel must conduct its operations without causing unnecessary harm to innocent civilians 鈥� something he believes the country needs to address.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe that holding Hamas accountable and being serious about preventing civilian harm are mutually exclusive. I don鈥檛 think you have to make a choice,鈥� Murphy said in an interview.
鈥淚 think you have to hold Hamas accountable, but you can do that in a way that doesn鈥檛 unduly hurt civilians,鈥� he added. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think Israel has gotten this balance right all the time. I think it鈥檚 really important for us to press Israel to do better, especially as we are considering putting money into this operation.鈥�
Blumenthal had not joined the senators鈥� statement on Friday but said in an interview he supports a pause 鈥渋f it helps free the hostages and provide more humanitarian aid and a corridor for Americans to escape from Gaza.鈥�
The senator, who recently returned from a trip to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, has been an ardent defender of Israel. He is prepping bipartisan legislation to strengthen and enforce sanctions against Iran, which has supported and funded Hamas.
But Blumenthal echoed a similar sentiment about minimizing civilian casualties and enhancing aid. He argued they are both moral and strategic interests 鈥渂ecause Israel has to think about the day after and the numbers of additional young people who will be attracted to terrorism if their family and friends perish.鈥�
Murphy raised a similar point about the consequences of a 鈥渓ong term, open-ended conflict.鈥� He warned Israel against 鈥減otentially walking into a trap set by Hamas,鈥� adding that he hopes other countries can learn the lessons of America鈥檚 long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The focus on humanitarian pauses illustrates the modest shift in how the U.S. sees its role in supporting Israel鈥檚 war to defeat Hamas.
Two weeks ago, the U.S. vetoed a resolution before the United Nations Security Council on a temporary halt because it reportedly did not mention Israel鈥檚 right to defend itself. The U.S. now has its own resolution seeking 鈥渁ll measures, specifically to include humanitarian pauses鈥� for getting aid into Gaza.
And members of the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, publicly addressed the idea of pursuing such a path. But officials have said it is a work in progress as they privately talk with Israel. Netanyahu has rejected calls for a ceasefire as Israeli forces go further into Gaza.
On the House side, 黑料吃瓜网 lawmakers are almost all in agreement with a brief pause in fighting and airstrikes.
Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, said he has spoken with constituents about the conflict for the past three weeks. He highlighted a meeting this week with the Council on American-Islamic Relations鈥� chapter in 黑料吃瓜网. CAIR, which advocates for Muslim civil rights, supports a ceasefire. But Larson, like others in the delegation, has not backed those calls within Congress.
鈥淚 join the Biden Administration in calling for humanitarian pauses to allow for the safe passage of civilians, secure the release of all hostages and ensure humanitarian assistance can enter Gaza without delay,鈥� Larson said in a statement.
鈥淚 have supported and will continue to support Israel and their right to self-defense, as well as the need to prevent further loss of innocent life and ensure basic necessities are available to civilians in Gaza,鈥� Larson added. 鈥淭here is no excuse for Hamas鈥檚 actions, and it is vital to emphasize that Hamas and the Palestinian people are not one and the same.鈥�
Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District; Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District; and Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, reiterated similar positions on aligning with the Biden administration on pauses and support for Israel.
Himes said he will keep pressing Israel to defend itself 鈥渋n a way that is consistent with the international laws of armed conflict and with deep regard for humanitarian concerns and minimizing civilian deaths.鈥� And DeLauro urged people to not equate Hamas to Palestinian civilians, who have 鈥渟adly have lost communities, neighborhoods, and loved ones because of this conflict and Hamas鈥檚 atrocities.鈥�
Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5th District, declined to comment on whether she supports humanitarian pauses. In a past statement, she raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
鈥淭wo things can be true. While I condemn the horrific attack by Hamas, I am deeply concerned about the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the assault on innocent Palestinians,鈥� Hayes said in an Oct. 14 statement. 鈥淎s this war continues, international humanitarian laws must be observed and innocent civilians must be protected.鈥�
While 黑料吃瓜网 Democrats are largely unified on the issue, differences have emerged within the party at large over the past few weeks.
The vast majority of House Democrats, including 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 five lawmakers, voted for a resolution last week condemning Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack. But a handful of members did not vote for the legislation.
Progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups argue that a humanitarian pause is not enough. They continue to press the Biden administration to back a ceasefire and have introduced a resolution seeking de-escalation and an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
鈥淲ar and retaliatory violence doesn鈥檛 achieve accountability or justice; it only leads to more death and human suffering,鈥� Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., said when introducing the resolution. 鈥淭he United States bears a unique responsibility to exhaust every diplomatic tool at our disposal to prevent mass atrocities and save lives.鈥�
Meanwhile, Republicans, under the new leadership of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., are pushing forward this week with legislation providing security aid for Israel 鈥� and separating it from other key funding priorities such as Ukraine.
Democrats appear largely opposed to the structure of Republicans鈥� standalone bill, which seeks to pay for it by carving out money from a Democratic bill passed last year to boost IRS enforcement. Johnson pushed back on Fox News that he is not trying 鈥渘ot to use [aid for Israel] for any partisan political gamesmanship.鈥�
But Courtney and others in 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 delegation hope Congress pursues that packages together aid for border security, Ukraine, Israel and humanitarian aid for places like Gaza.
鈥淪peaker Johnson鈥檚 disappointing, one-sided bill falls far short of the gravity of this moment,鈥� Courtney said in a statement. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time the House Republican majority stops putting politics above the survival of innocent lives.鈥�
Blumenthal said he expects the GOP bill on separate funding for Israel to face resistance in the Democratic-controlled Senate, even among some Republicans who also want to approve assistance for Ukraine. He still wants both but emphasized the urgency of getting something done for Israel.
鈥淚f push comes to shove and it鈥檚 Israel aid or nothing, I would vote for Israel aid,鈥� Blumenthal said, 鈥渨ith the understanding that the Senate would move forward and get some commitment the House would put [Ukraine aid] to a vote.鈥�
The 黑料吃瓜网 Mirror/黑料吃瓜网 Radio federal policy reporter position is made possible, in part, by funding from the Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation and Engage CT.
