U.S. Rep. Schakowsky Calls For Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire To Be Extended
Politics & Government
U.S. Rep. Schakowsky Calls For Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire To Be Extended The Evanston Democrat said the brief truce that began Friday must remain in place to secure the release of remaining hostages.An Iraqi pilot walks in front of Qatari humanitarian aid on its way to Gaza Strip Monday at Al Arish airport in Egypt. The Qatari government said Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire for two more days. (Amr Nabil/AP Photo)EVANSTON, IL — Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky called for the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas to be extended. Keeping the temporary truce in place is aimed at securing the release of hostages and negotiating both a permanent cease-fire and a pathway to a two-state solution, the Evanston Democrat said in a statement Sunday.
"I hear daily from constituents mourning the over 1,400 victims of October 7 and from families of hostages who are still living a waking nightmare of fear, worry, and unknowing, I hear daily from constituents who are outraged by the killing of over 12,000 Palestinians — including an estimated 5,000 children — during Israel’s invasion and bombardment of Gaza," Schakowsky said.
"And I hear daily from constituents who simply want the fighting to stop. It is critical that we build upon this diplomatic breakthrough and end the terrorist violence and war that have left thousands dead and countless more suffering," she continued.
Schakowsky said the moment must not be wasted and the international community must keep working to secure a lasting peace centered on justice for both Israeli and Palestinians.
"This brief ceasefire must be extended to give the Biden Administration and our allies more time for diplomacy to secure the release of all remaining hostages, to broker a long-term and sustainable cessation of violence, and to build a pathway for the creation of a democratic and sovereign Palestinian state that provides freedom and prosperity for the Palestinian people and peace and security for the people of Israel," Schakowsky said.
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky called for an extension of the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. She began calling for a "humanitarian pause" in the conflict on Oct. 26. (Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)On Monday, the Qatari government announced that Israeli and Hamas representatives have agreed to extend the four-day cease-fire for two additional days.
In the third hostage-for-prisoner exchange on Sunday, Hamas freed 17 hostages, among them 14 Israelis, in exchange for the release of 39 Palestinian prisoners, who are mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones or firebombs at Israeli forces or other offenses that are not as serious.
Prior to the truce, Hamas released four of its estimated 240 hostages. Two other hostages were found dead in Gaza and one was rescued. Since the truce, the U.S.-designated terrorist organization has released 58 hostages, of whom 39 were Israelis.
A fourth exchange is expected Monday.
A group of Israelis celebrate as a helicopter carrying hostages released from the Gaza Strip lands at the helipad of the Schneider Children's Medical Center in Petah Tikva, Israel, Sunday. The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was back on track Sunday as the militants freed 17 more hostages, including 14 Israelis and the first American — 4-year-old Abigail Edan — in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners in a third set of releases under a four-day truce. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have protested Schakowsky's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. On Oct. 19, seven people were cited for trespassing after about two dozen people staged a sit-in at her Skokie offices. And on Nov. 7, demonstrators protested in front of her Evanston home. Both events were organized by the U.S. Palestinian Community Network-Chicago.
Schakowsky began calling for a "humanitarian pause" in the fighting 19 days after the Hamas attacks on Israel. In an Oct. 26 statement, she said the U.S. and its allies should help get more food, water, fuel, medicine and other aid into Gaza.
"Hamas must immediately and unconditionally release all hostages," she said. "Israel must take all possible measures to avoid further harming civilians."
And earlier this month, Schakowsky was among the leading signatories of a letter to President Joe Biden calling for his administration to enact temporary protections for Palestinians in the United States to prevent them from being deported to the West Bank and Gaza.
Signed by about 100 House and Senate Democrats, the letter asks Biden to designate the Palestinian territories for Temporary Protective Status, or TPS, and authorize Deferred Enforced Departure, or DED.
"TPS or DED would enable Palestinians currently present in the U.S., including students, tourists, and workers, to be protected from a dangerous return to their homeland while affording them the ability to remain safely in the U.S. and to work legally to support themselves and their families," it said.
"As such, we urge your Administration to designate the Palestinian territories for TPS and/or to authorize DED for Palestinians in the United States without delay."
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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