Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) joined the chorus of progressive House Democrats calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Balint, in an opinion piece in VTDigger, became the first Jewish member of Congress to call for a ceasefire in the conflict, saying there should be a “sustainable and lasting peace” in Gaza.
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“What is needed right now is an immediate break in violence to allow for a true negotiated cease-fire. One in which both sides stop the bloodshed, allow critical access to humanitarian aid and move towards negotiating a sustainable and lasting peace. One that stops the deaths of innocent Gazans and leads to a near future where Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have true self-governance and economic security. One that returns all hostages safely and protects Israelis from continued terror from Hamas,” she said.
The Vermont Democrat also said that as part of a ceasefire, Hamas cannot rule over Gaza, saying the terrorist group has “violated international law.”
“For the good of Palestinians and Israelis, a lasting bilateral cease-fire can only work if Hamas does not continue to rule in Gaza. Hamas is a terrorist organization, and its stated goal is to annihilate the state of Israel. It can’t remain in power in Gaza. It has violated international law by taking hostages and massacring civilians,” she said.
Balint said she is “one generation removed from the horrific trauma of the Holocaust.” She also said she does “not claim to know how to solve every aspect of this decades-long conflict” but wants to see the killing stop.
“I want Vermonters to know that I am using the influence and power of my position to bring an end to this horrific violence and suffering. That is the work I’m doing every day,” she concluded.
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Balint joins a small group of her Democratic colleagues who are calling for a ceasefire as others in the Democratic caucus call for a “humanitarian pause” for civilians in Gaza. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and other members of the progressive group of lawmakers known as the “Squad” have called for a ceasefire in the conflict for nearly a month.
The White House has brushed off calls for a ceasefire, with National Security Council coordinator John Kirby saying last week that he does not “believe a ceasefire is appropriate at this time.”
