In a growing chorus of voices demanding an end to the violence in Israel and Gaza, Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon became the second Senate Democrat to call for a cease-fire in Israel's war against the terrorist group Hamas. Merkley's plea was made in a post on X, where he stated the need for a cessation of hostilities by both sides. He emphasized that the cease-fire and subsequent negotiations should address critical objectives, including the release of hostages and a significant increase in humanitarian aid.

Merkley's announcement aligns him with Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the number two ranking Senate Democrat, as well as progressive House lawmakers like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who have all called for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Durbin, who called for both sides to agree to any cessation of hostilities, also emphasized the imperative for Hamas to release all hostages taken captive during the October 7 terror attacks on Israel. The attacks resulted in the loss of over 1,200 Israeli lives, with the terrorists infiltrating the country from Gaza and perpetrating horrific acts of violence, including torture, rape, and murder. Additionally, around 240 individuals were taken as hostages back to Gaza.

In response to the attacks, Israel declared war on Hamas and initiated airstrikes and ground operations to eliminate the terrorists and dismantle their capacity to harm Israel. Thousands of Palestinian civilians have unfortunately become caught in the crossfire. Israel and U.S. officials argue that Hamas intentionally hides military targets among civilian infrastructure, such as homes, schools, and hospitals. The Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza claims that over 12,700 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. However, the lack of distinction between civilians and fighters in Hamas's reporting makes the numbers impossible to independently verify.

As casualties rise, United Nations officials have declared a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, leading world leaders to urge an immediate cease-fire. Despite mounting pressure, Israel, with the support of President Biden, has thus far refused these demands, asserting that an end to hostilities would amount to surrendering to Hamas.

Senator Merkley, in a statement on Medium, condemned the "de facto annexation" of Palestinian territory by Israel and expressed deep concern about the conduct of the campaign since October 7. He criticized what he called Israel's indiscriminate bombing and highlighted the destruction caused by airstrikes on Gaza City, crowded refugee camps, schools, hospitals, and even United Nations shelters.

Merkley drew parallels to the mistakes made by the United States post-September 11, cautioning that Israel is losing international support. He asserted that weeks of cease-fire are necessary to safely evacuate Palestinian civilians, deliver much-needed humanitarian aid, and enable foreign citizens who wish to leave the territory to do so.

In the midst of these calls for a cease-fire, negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding a potential deal are reportedly in their final stages. Sources reveal that the deal may involve the release of some hostages and a temporary halt to fighting to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region. Israel's war cabinet was scheduled to meet to discuss the possibility of such a deal.

Mark Regev, the senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed that any cease-fire agreement would be temporary, signaling the tenuous nature of the current negotiations.

As the conflict rages on, the international community awaits a resolution that will bring an end to the violence and pave the way for much-needed humanitarian relief for the people affected by the ongoing hostilities.