Twenty-seven days into Israel’s brutal bombing campaign, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) became the first member of the US Senate to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Asked in an interview on CNN whether it’s time to call for a ceasefire, Durbin replied, “I think it is.”
“At least in the context of both sides agreeing. For example, the release of those kidnapped should be part of this — immediate release. That should be the beginning of it,” he said. “An effort should be made to engage in conversation between the Israelis and Palestinians.”
Durbin is the Senate majority whip, making him the second-highest-ranking Democrat in the chamber. His call for a ceasefire breaks from the Biden administration, which has only called for a vague “pause.”
The State Department has told its diplomats to avoid using the terms “ceasefire” and “de-escalation” when discussing the conflict. President Biden was asked by a protester on Wednesday why he hasn’t called for a ceasefire, and said he only supports a “pause” to “get the prisoners out.”
When asked about Biden’s refusal to use the term ceasefire, Durbin reiterated his position. “Well, I believe that what I said earlier about ceasefire is there are circumstances — for example, the release of those who have been kidnapped as part of it — an indication that this is a good-faith effort on the part of the other side,” he said.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the death toll since Israel unleashed its bombing campaign after the October 7 Hamas attack has surpassed 9,000. The total includes 3,760 children.
Hezbollah Ultimatum: Ceasefire on November 3 or Full Mobilization for War
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/hezbollah-ultimatum-ceasefire-on-november-3-or-full-mobilization-for-war/
Well that did not happen. Why would Hezbollah want a war with Israel? 150,000 rockets may sound impressive, but think about this: Israel can easily bring 100 towed and self propelled artillery to the Northern front. If the guns fire for 8 hours a day at 1 round a minute, that is 100*60*8 or 48,000 rounds in one day. In three days they will fire the equal of all Hezbollah rockets and than keep firing. Now tossed in IDF bombers and their own rocket launchers, Tell me again why Hezbollah would want to make that fire power exchange?
Do you think I’m part of Hezbollah you twit?
How many Palestinian lives= one Israeli life?
All of them, apparently.
Write in Senator Durbin for president.
CEASEFIRE NOW YOU FUCKS!
“An effort should be made to engage in conversation between the Israelis and Palestinians.”
This “effort” will have to be directed 100% TOWARDS THE ISRAELIS! They don’t want peace – they want land and vengeance. In a nation like the USA that supposedly cherishes “freedom and democracy” it took a Congressperson this long to stand up against OBVIOUS war crimes? This says it all! What else is new? Shame on the US Congress!
Good luck changing the makeup of Congress with our bought and paid for system that makes a few rich and many poor
“I think it is.” Think it is?! Most of the UN Security Council voted for it in clear and articulate terms. Our leadership is so pathetic.
Biden was asked by a protester on Wednesday why he hasn’t called for a ceasefire, and said he only supports a “pause” to “get the prisoners out.”
Follow up question:
And what happens after the “pause”?
We all know “what”.
Cynical virtue signaling:
Biden ‘Countering Islamophobia’ While Incinerating Gaza Is The Most Democrat Thing Ever
In what is arguably the most liberal thing ever to have happened in all of human history, the Biden administration has announced its plans to develop a US National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia even as it helps Israel massacre Muslims by the thousands in Gaza.
This comes as the death toll from the US-backed bombing campaign in Gaza nears 10,000, including 3,760 children, in what experts and authorities around the world are describing with increasing frequency as a genocide. If these people were Jewish instead of Muslim, they would not be trapped in a giant concentration camp while the IDF hammers them with a nonstop barrage of military explosives, but because of their ethnicity they are subjected to this horror.
There’s a classic meme which makes fun of the way US foreign policy under Democrats is the same murderous foreign policy as it is under Republicans, but with a bunch of woke-sounding bumper stickers slapped on the surface to make it palatable for progressive sensibilities.
https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*aWSl_W_uqeAJ6bLp
As In These Times reports, this same administration is also trying to get permission to conduct arms deals with Israel without congressional supervision, in complete secrecy and without accountability to the voting public.
The US government is every bit as culpable in the massacre of thousands of Muslim children as Israel, because this entire massacre is happening with both its assistance and its express permission. But here is its government pretending to care deeply that one Muslim child was killed by an Islamophobic psycho in America.
This is everything that’s disgusting about the Democratic Party. It puts a warm, friendly face on the most murderous and tyrannical power structure on earth, posing as a defender of marginalized groups while dropping bombs on the most marginalized populations on this planet. It selects a high number of women and racially diverse officials for its cabinet positions to convey the illusion that it has transcended the abusive bigotries of the past, while subjecting impoverished brown-skinned foreigners to a nonstop barrage of high-tech explosive munitions in massacres that would be the envy of the worst white supremacist imperialists in history…
A much more accurate image for the United States than the one it tries to give itself with its fraudulent progressive virtue signalling would be the one it was given by protesters who interrupted Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. Demonstrators painted their hands red to show the blood this administration has on its own hands, resulting in viral images of Blinken’s face surrounded by bloody hands circulating all over the internet.
That’s what the US empire really is. Not the liberal bastion of human rights it presents itself as, but a blood-spattered psychopathic murder machine which maintains its domination of this planet with the nonstop butchery of human beings.
The longer the massacre in Gaza goes on, the more people are catching a glimpse behind the plastic smiley-faced mask of the US empire and seeing the cold-eyed killer underneath.
https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2023/11/03/biden-countering-islamophobia-while-incinerating-gaza-is-the-most-democrat-thing-ever/
Bernie Sanders also called for a ceasefire…!
Ceasefire in exchange for all the hostages makes sense to me. Than Israel can bring their troops home, permanently seal the land border between Israel and Gaza and give up the sea blockade. And Gaza would be free to do what they want to do. They can even declared themself as a nation. And Israel would need to tell Gaza in no uncertain terms that any rocket or ground attack coming from Gaza will be met with a massive bombing and shelling counter attack.
ALL the hostages, including the ones held by the Israelis, or just the ones held by Hamas?
Fair question, just the ones held by Hamas. Exchanging the prisoners/hostages held by Israel would reward Hamas for hostage taking and encourage others to do the same. But look what Hama and Gaza is getting in return with my deal. They get freedom from the blockade. They can trade via Egypt or the sea as my proposal would lift the sea blockade. They can even build an airport on the coast.
Just don’t fire rockets at Israel and Israel must leave them alone.
And not demanding the exchange of the hostages held by Israel would reward Israel for hostage taking and remain a convenient excuse for doing the same.
And thus the problem. The violence cycle just continues. Israel is not going to trade and Hamas is not going to just release the hostages. So the killing and destruction just keeps on going. It is now a war of wills. Just curious how do you see this ending? My gut feeling is that most of the hostages being held by Hamas will get killed by either by friendly fire or Hamas and Israel will pound Gaza into the ground as revenge. BTW, I hope I am wrong.
“The Biden administration has refused to call for a ceasefire, only a “pause” to get hostages out”. So Joe, what comes next, turn lose the Israel onslaught to kill another 9,000, then drive the Palestinian citizens into Egypt, to the Sinai desert to die. What has been proposed is for the Palestinians to first be housed in tents, while more permanent abodes are built. By whom? U.S. ? Israel? Not the U.S., because there is Ukraine. Not Israel because they don’t give a sh*t. So, it would appear that the Palestinians, the remaining ones, will just die. Israel will rebuild Gaza and the West Bank into a beautiful metropolis, replete with parks, nice roads, houses, expensive beach homes for the wealthy. Just a carefree living. Raves on the Sabbath will kick in again. So wonderful. The world will wash its hands of the whole episode. It will be forgotten, just a footnote in history. Grand,isn’t it?
That is kind of a dark projection.
This current situation is terrible for both Israelis and Palestinians.A ceasefire will only allow time for Hamas to reconstitute itself,and for Israel’s enemies to shortly resume death by a thousand pinprick assaults. Hamas did not give squat for the suffering its attack would cause the Gazans.
So true about Hamas not caring. I would even argue that they want Gazans to suffer so the world opinion turns on Israel. They would consider that a victory.
Not a victory —but a temporary return to sanity and humanity.
Thank you senator. My representatives won’t and I have told them I will be withholding my support until they do.