While Representative Andy Kim and First Lady Tammy Murphy maintain that the United States should continue arming the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the ongoing slaughter of women and children in Gaza, a federal lawmaker who visited Israel in November says it is time to stop.
Congresswoman Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who is calling for a bilateral ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
Dean said a recent trip to Israel raised concerns over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “dishonesty” and “broken promises,” which have led her to call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
“Less than a week ago, I returned from my second trip to the Israeli and Palestinian territories since the October 7th brutal attacks. The visits allowed me to speak with Israeli leaders in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and Palestinian leaders in Ramallah,” said Dean. “What I saw confirmed my concerns and fears. Israel has the right and responsibility to defend itself, its sovereignty, and its citizens — but what is happening is beyond self-defense and is unacceptable to me.”
“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s dishonesty — his broken promises to use precision strikes to protect civilians and his false claims that safe zones have been created and enforced — is unacceptable,” said Dean. “My heart breaks for Gazans, the suffering of innocent civilians — so many of them children — the devastation and loss of life is unacceptable.”
“Since the start of Israel’s mission to root out Hamas, in the wake of the brutal murders and kidnappings on Oct. 7th, the United States has given Mr. Netanyahu time and discretion, in the hopes that Israel could do that which would benefit us all — rid Gaza of a cruel terrorist organization and bring hostages home,” said Dean.
“Instead, Mr. Netanyahu has used that time, that discretion, to wage a war against civilians — and no war against civilians is just,” said Dean. “On my trip to Israel in November, I spoke with the Prime Minister — and urged him to micro-target, dislodge Hamas, end civilian slaughtering, and bring all hostages home.”
“And when I called for a long term pause at the end of October, I did so out of concern for both Israeli hostages and Palestinian civilians. I advocated for a pause to ensure that hostages could be returned home and access to food, water, shelter, medical supplies, and other necessities could be restored in Gaza,” said Dean. “At that time, I had hoped that Israel would root out terrorism and rescue the hostages. Now, I have serious doubts about how Prime Minister Netanayhu and his government are executing this war and carrying out this rescue mission.”
“It has been months, and diplomacy — in the form of brief pauses — has been the only effective tool through which aid has flowed into Gaza and hostages have been released,” said Dean. “And since the end of that pause, we have only seen more devastation and a disproportionately low level of success in finding Hamas operatives.”
“This war has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians – in Gaza, and in the West Bank, where settler violence has sharply risen since October 7th,” said Dean. “Whether in the Gaza Strip or in the West Bank, this war has devastated an already hurting population, and appears to have no end in sight.”
“For those reasons, I am calling for a bilateral ceasefire with the release of all remaining hostages,” said Dean. “Words matter. During this conflict, I have been careful and deliberate with my words. But four months into the war – into the suffering – we must all rally behind an end to the violence and heartbreak.”
“And whether you feel more comfortable with calling it a ‘humanitarian pause,’ ‘humanitarian ceasefire,’ ‘negotiated stop,’ or ‘ceasefire,’ the truth remains – it’s time to turn to diplomacy: end the war, return the hostages, and arrive at a long overdue station of permanent peace,” said Dean. “The international community – including Gulf nations – has signaled urgency in ending this war.”
“Ceasefires have come and gone in this conflict. We must do everything in our power, as a global community, to ensure that this ceasefire finally ends this long-term conflict,” said Dean. “The US and the international community must find a permanent, safe, and dignified pathway to a two-state solution for the future of Palestinian and Israeli civilians alike.”
“Because Israel must never cease to exist — the Jewish people have a right to live, thrive, and be secure in their cultural, ethnic, and religious practices,” said Dean. “And so too, there must be self-determination for Palestinians – liberty, dignity, and joy – in a state of their own. Long overdue is a continuous, democratic, and autonomous Palestinian State – in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.”
“For any of this to be possible, we must have a common understanding that what we’ve tried in the past – is simply not working,” said Dean. “And so now, with the U.S. leading — arm-in-arm with the international community — permanent peace, security, and sovereignty for two nations must be realized.”
Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a call overnight Wednesday that the IDF will continue slaughtering anyone in Gaza until Hamas is defeated and hostages are returned.
According to a Defense Ministry statement, Gallant briefed U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the military’s achievement in destroying “dozens of kilometers” of Hamas tunnels across the coastal enclave.
“During his briefing, the minister reiterated the defense establishment’s determination to continue operating until the removal of this threat, the destruction of Hamas battalions, the elimination of Hamas leadership and return of hostages,” according to the readout of the call.
Barring a deal to return the remaining 134 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, Israeli forces are preparing to enter the last Hamas stronghold of Rafah to destroy the terror group’s final four battalions, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said is vital to Israel’s war goals.
“In discussing the hostage crisis, Minister Gallant emphasized the importance of U.S. leadership and international pressure to achieving a framework that will enable the return of hostages,” the statement added.
Israeli ground troops continue to operate throughout the Gaza Strip, killing terrorists and civilians alike in Khan Yunis and the Gaza City neighborhood of Zeitoun, the IDF said Thursday.
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Austin and Gallant discussed the urgency of more humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians and the need to facilitate new routes for aid into northern Gaza.