Staff Reports
House Democrats have been calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. In a fiery reaction, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) made it clear that the war did start with a ceasefire. Johnson said, "It's been kind of upsetting to us that Israel is starting the next phase of its war. I've heard Democrats say there needs to be a ceasefire." Let's be clear: this has been made very clear. There was a truce before October 7, but Hamas broke it.
Hamas, a terrorist group, is using dishonest methods to get Israel involved in this war, as Johnson's comments show. Always keep in mind that Hamas was the one who attacked the Jewish state, making Israel defend itself for the first time since 1973. A terrible number of people have died in this war—over 9,100 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.
Many of my colleagues have called for a “ceasefire.”
Let me be clear: there was a ceasefire – before the October 7th attack.
We must pass aid to Israel now. Inaction is not an option. pic.twitter.com/B7vkopAL7p— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) November 2, 2023
Even though the facts are clear, some Democrats, especially those in the progressive "Squad," have called for a ceasefire and said Israel's reaction was wrong. It's disappointing to see that these politicians care more about politics than keeping our ally Israel safe. Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have all spoken out against what Israel is doing. It is also important to note that Ocasio-Cortez has spoken out against the Hamas attacks and the rise in racism in the US.
The recent passing of a multibillion-dollar aid plan for Israel by the House with only 12 Democrats voting in favor shows how divided the Democratic Party is. This group of lawmakers who voted against backing Israel doesn't understand what's going on in the world and doesn't see Hamas as a threat. There is no doubt that Israel does not need a ceasefire. What it does need is unwavering backing from its allies. Democrats shouldn't play politics with the safety and security of our friend Israel. Instead, they should stand firm with Israel.
