By Adam Pagnucco.
After Hamas launched a horrific terrorist attack last October 7, Israel responded with a devastating counterattack in Gaza that has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Many people and governments around the world have called for a ceasefire. I asked the candidates whether they wanted a ceasefire, but notice that I used the word “unconditional” to get them to offer more detailed views. After all, unconditional ceasefires and ceasefires with conditions attached are very different things.
Should Israel implement an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza right now? If not, why not?
Chris Hyser (Republican): Yes, to stop the senseless killings of the Palestinian civilian population, immediate action is imperative. This requires a multifaceted approach, including diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire, ensuring accountability for human rights violations, and addressing the root causes of the conflict. International pressure must be exerted on all parties involved to prioritize the protection of civilian lives and adhere to international law. Additionally, fostering dialogue and negotiations towards a just and lasting resolution is essential for achieving peace and stability in the region.
Neil Parrott (Republican): It is not the role of an American elected official to tell foreign countries how to conduct their wars. In any event, an unconditional ceasefire with a terrorist organization like Hamas sounds suicidal. The US should let Israel fight its own wars the way they see fit. When Israel was attacked on October 7th, it was the biggest unprovoked mass murder of Jewish people since the holocaust. Hamas still has Israeli and US hostages that they refuse to release. Gazan leadership has shown that they do not plan to live at peace with Israel, but want Israel annihilated. A “two-state solution” only exacerbates the problem. Now that 85% of the Gazans’ 2.3 million population have been displaced, allowing them to seek asylum in Egypt or other countries in the region should be explored. I hope and pray for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and an end to civilian casualties, but unilateral surrender by Israel won’t bring peace.
Mariela Roca (Republican): I do not support a ceasefire in Gaza until the Hamas terrorist organization is eliminated. I fully stand with and support Israel – and will always support Israel as the only democracy and our greatest ally in the Middle East. The State of Israel unequivocally upholds the rights of all its citizens, including those of Israeli Arabs. Within Israel, Israeli Arabs share and have the same legal rights as Jewish Israelis, and not only possess the freedom to hold office but also stand eligible for election, reinforcing Israel’s steadfast dedication to fairness and equal opportunity for all its citizens within its democracy. Until Hamas supporters stop wanting the total destruction of Israel and they stop saying things like “from the river to the sea” it will be very difficult to get on board with a ceasefire.
Brenda Thiam (Republican): I don’t think the average person supports war or thinks war is the best decision when countries fight against each other. During war, innocent lives are taken, devastation is all around, and rebuilding from war is another costly endeavor. Lives cannot be restored. I believe Israel implementing any cease-fire would only embolden the terrorist group Hamas to retreat and come back with a definite and more graphic plan to annihilate Israel and its people.
Jason “Mr. J” Johnson (Unaffiliated): Peace is still possible and at this juncture Israel has the opportunity, capacity and the moral responsibility to take action on bringing an end to the current hostilities in Gaza.
Peter Choharis (Democrat): No. First, an unconditional ceasefire under current conditions would be a unilateral ceasefire. Without Hamas participating, no relief agency would be willing or able to bring food or medicine safely into Gaza. I say this as a former relief worker who worked in a war zone in Thailand for the International Rescue Committee and in a famine in Sudan for UNICEF.
Second, as CIA Director Burns recently made clear, it is Hamas that is standing in the way of relief aid going to Palestinian civilians. The current US-backed proposal for a temporary ceasefire, an exchange of hostages for prisoners, and discussions regarding a long-term approach is reasonable. Hamas’s rejection of this proposal is undermining the safety and security of tens-of-thousands of innocent Palestinians.
Third, conditions are extremely fluid. Also, what is being reported might reflect a limited picture of what is taking place. Accordingly, I am wary of Members of Congress, and especially Congressional candidates, trying to micro-manage such sensitive, complex issues. That is especially so when the Biden Administration has a very sophisticated team trying to address the humanitarian crisis. I have known several of them personally and professionally for many years and have enormous respect for them.
George Gluck (Democrat): This is a classic Hobson’s Choice! No ceasefire or an unconditional ceasefire, will eventually result, as all others before, in another war. What is needed is to let the people of both countries work this out, as many have tried to.
Ashwani Jain (Democrat): Yes. I was the first and only in this race – back in November – to call for a ceasefire (i.e. the only way to get aid to civilians and get hostages released), a 2-state solution and conditioning military aid on upholding humanitarian law. I believe in the right and nuanced approach that supports our ally Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorists while also calling out Netanyahu’s apartheid regime of ethnic cleansing with no regard to civilian lives. Voters deserve leaders who stand up for human rights and take bold stances regardless of which way the political winds blow.
Lesley Lopez (Democrat): In the months since the horrific October 7th attacks on Israel, the conflict has tragically resulted in the death and displacement of thousands of civilians. While it is important that the United States continues to support our ally Israel, we must also prioritize providing humanitarian aid and support. Ultimately, I hope a two-state solution can be achieved, and I’m not sure how that’s possible if the hostages are not returned and if Hamas is still in a position of authority and influence.
Tekesha Martinez (Democrat): The war in Gaza has led to the deaths of 1,200+ Israelis and 30,000 Palestinians, and recently, an Israeli Defense Forces airstrike has killed an American aid worker. Worryingly, over one million Gazans are facing catastrophic food insecurity, with many innocent women and children facing the possibility of famine. It is unconscionable that humanitarian aid deliveries are still not reaching the people most in need. There is also the risk of regional escalation, and I support President Biden’s calls against a regional conflict from materializing between Iran and Israel.
As a mediator, I believe we must center humanity, compassion, and respect for human life, which means the immediate guarantee of protections for humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza, an end to the killing of innocent civilians, and the release of all hostages.
April McClain Delaney (Democrat): In my opinion Israel should not implement an unconditional ceasefire and the United States should not condition our aid to Israel. We must not forget that there could be a ceasefire immediately if Hamas would return the hostages captured from their terrorist attack.
Laurie-Anne Sayles (Democrat): The recent escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict demands a ceasefire, with a focus on the immediate, safe return of hostages and the bodies of those who have died while in captivity. Congress must prioritize the safety and well-being of all parties involved, including civilians in Israel and Palestine. Congress should establish a bipartisan task force to develop a permanent and robust approach that addresses the political, economic, and social factors driving the conflict. This approach should provide humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank and explore every possible solution, including negotiations to establish a peaceful two-state solution.
All parties must consider and evaluate the decision to implement an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. Any agreement must be comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable and address the underlying issues that led to the conflict. We must prioritize human life, human rights, and international law in decision-making. We must act now to guarantee the safety of all parties involved and provide a framework for a long-term solution that considers the needs and perspectives of all involved.
Joe Vogel (Democrat): October 7th was the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, sending shockwaves throughout the world. This conflict has been painful, and personal. Helping craft a sustainable resolution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza must be a top priority for American foreign policy, but an entirely unconditional and one sided ceasefire is not the way to do it. Hamas has pledged to repeat October 7th hundreds of times over. For there to be any possibility of peace, Hamas must be dislodged from power, and any bilateral ceasefire must come with the release of all the remaining hostages. The U.S. must support Israel’s right to defend itself as it dismantles Hamas, but we also must demand restraint and civilian protections. The actions of the Netanyahu government in the West Bank and Gaza have presented major obstacles to peace, and I believe Israel and the region would be best served by new leadership. I support a move toward an eventual bilateral ceasefire in exchange for all hostages, and increasing the flow of aid to Gaza.
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These candidates did not respond.
Stephen McDow (D)
Mohammed Mozumder (D)
Adrian Petrus (D)
Destiny Drake West (D)
Kiambo “Bo” White (D)
Altimont Wilks (D)
Dan Cox (R)
Todd Puglisi (R)
Tom Royals (R)
Moshe Landman (Green)
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