Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke voiced support for the Michigan voters planning to mark “uncommitted” in the state’s Democratic primary to pressure President Joe Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Some Michiganders are considering voting “uncommitted” so Biden receives fewer votes in the primary on Tuesday, in protest to Biden’s staunch defense of Israel. Biden has refused to call for a ceasefire as Israel continues to attack Hamas in Gaza.
“I do think it makes sense for those who want to see this administration do more, or do a better job, to exert that political pressure and get the president’s attention and the attention of those on his campaign so that the United States does better,” O’Rourke told the Michigan Advance. “I agree with the aims and goals.”
There are still over a hundred hostages being held by Hamas 140 days after it launched its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, when over 1,200 Israelis were killed. The Gaza health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, reported that roughly 29,000 people have been killed during the war. Its tally does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
“We should have a ceasefire, there should be a return of each [and] every single one of those hostages [taken by Hamas], there should be an end to this war, and there should be a negotiated solution to Palestinian statehood,” O’Rourke said. “All of that needs to happen, and I share the concern that the United States is not doing close to enough to bring those things to pass.”
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Biden has shared his disagreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to begin strikes in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza that many Palestinians relocated to in order to avoid violence. Biden discouraged Israel from initiating a “massive land invasion” until there was a plan to evacuate civilians and remaining hostages.
O’Rourke ran against Biden in 2020 but went on to endorse him. The former Texas representative recently lost a gubernatorial bid in the state.
