‘Squad’ members condemn Hamas attack but call for ceasefire

Several members of the liberal Democratic “Squad” in Congress called for a ceasefire and de-escalation Saturday in the wake of a complex, multi-pronged attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel.

The Democratic politicians took to social media to denounce Hamas while also calling for an end to further bloodshed — a contrast to messaging from the White House, which defended Israel’s right to retaliate against Hamas’s political and military infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, the launching point for this weekend’s deadly assault.

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“I condemn the horrific acts we are seeing unfold today in Israel against children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed people who are being slaughtered and taken hostage by Hamas,” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Such senseless violence will only repeat the back and forth cycle we’ve seen, which we cannot allow to continue. We need to call for deescalation and ceasefire. I will keep advocating for peace and justice throughout the Middle East.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA).

“These devastating attacks on Israelis are deeply alarming and my heart breaks for the victims & their loved ones,” Pressley posted on X. “We need an immediate ceasefire & de-escalation. It is long past time to stop this cycle of violence & trauma, and work toward a just & lasting peace in the region.”

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) also took to X to call for a permanent stand-down.

“I strongly condemn the horrific attacks by Hamas and am saddened by the loss of precious lives, especially on the holy day of Simchat Torah,” Bowman wrote. “We need a way to end this deadly violence that is killing and traumatizing generations of Israelis and Palestinians alike — including the blockade of Gaza. I have been to the Gaza border and know that Israelis and Palestinians are constantly living in fear. We must work harder to ensure peace in the region.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) had not posted about the fighting on X as of Saturday evening but she did issue a statement similar to the ones put out by Omar, Pressley, and Bowman, according to reporting from Fox News.

“Today is devastating for all those seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights in Israel and Palestine. I condemn Hamas’s attack in the strongest possible terms,” the New York Democrat reportedly said. “No child and family should ever endure this kind of violence and fear, and this violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region. An immediate ceasefire and de-escalation is urgently needed to save lives.”

Those messages suggest the Squad is at variance with President Joe Biden, who was less conciliatory in his comments Saturday.

“I made clear to Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel,” Biden said in a written statement.

Later, in televised remarks, he gave a firm warning: “Israel has a right to defend itself and its people — full stop. Let me say this as clearly as I can — this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching.”

Hamas’s assault on Israel marks the most dramatic escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict in decades. Not even during the Second Intifada of the early 2000s did Palestinian militant organizations attempt an attack as sweeping and bold as the one now raging across southern Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Hamas launched thousands of rockets at Israel early Saturday and led simultaneous attacks against the Jewish state by land, sea, and air. Militants burst through fences and barriers around Gaza and rampaged through nearby Israeli towns, shooting indiscriminately at civilians and taking hostages. They also seized Israeli military equipment and trucks, torched Israeli tanks, and temporarily took control of a border crossing. Videos showed fighters dressed in black flying paragliders into Israeli territory.

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Israel has declared a state of emergency and called up military reservists. Within hours of the beginning of the assault, Israeli fighter jets bombed suspected Hamas bases and command posts inside densely populated Gaza.

As of 9 p.m. Saturday, the Associated Press estimated that at least 250 Israelis and at least 230 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting.