First Jewish Member of Congress Backs Gaza Ceasefire

Vermont Representative Becca Balint, a first-term Democrat, has become the first Jewish member of Congress to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has caused a rift within the Democratic Party, with several progressive lawmakers splitting with party leadership over Israel's response to the October 7 attacks carried out by Palestinian militant group Hamas. According to data collected by the left-wing Working Families Party, at least 32 members of Congress—including Balint—have called for a ceasefire.

In an opinion piece published by online newspaper VTDigger on Thursday, Balint wrote that the "ensuing siege" of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military is "a dire crisis," and said that she grieves with both Israelis and Palestinians who have suffered from the violence.

"What is needed right now is an immediate break in violence to allow for a true negotiated cease-fire," Balint wrote. "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."

"It will be the first step in the difficult and critical work needed ahead—building Israel's post-war government, determining who will govern the Gaza Strip, and negotiating long-term peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis," the lawmaker added.

Leading Democrats, including President Joe Biden, have repeatedly dismissed calls for a ceasefire. Instead, the president has pushed for temporary humanitarian pauses, allowing officials to distribute aid to Gaza residents. The White House announced that Israel agreed to daily four-hour pauses last week.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish, have also rejected calls for a ceasefire, standing alongside Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson at a pro-Israel rally in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

Newsweek reached out to Jeffries and Schumer's offices via email Thursday for comment on Balint's op-ed.

Balint marks the 30th Democratic member of the House to support a ceasefire. Other progressive voices calling for an end to the conflict include Missouri Representative Cori Bush, who sponsored a House resolution calling for an "immediate de-escalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine." The resolution has been signed by 17 House members.

Only one Democratic senator, Dick Durbin of Illinois, has called for a ceasefire on the condition that Hamas release the hostages in their possession.