U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez among leaders of cease-fire movement for Israel-Hamas war
As both sides in the Israel-Hamas war reportedly close in on a cease-fire agreement, three congressional representatives from Illinois have been among those calling for the bloodshed to end.
One has gone further by opposing U.S. military assistance to Israel, which declared war after a deadly surprise attack by Hamas-led militant groups on Oct. 7.
U.S. Reps. Delia Ramirez of the 3rd District, Jonathan Jackson of the 1st District and Jesus "Chuy" Garcia of the 4th District - all Chicago Democrats whose constituencies stretch into the suburbs - were three of the original co-sponsors of a resolution calling for Biden to facilitate an immediate cease-fire in Israel and Gaza and for humanitarian assistance to be allowed to enter Gaza.
"Escalating violence will only bring more human suffering," Garcia, whose district reaches eastern DuPage County, said via email. "We must also urgently focus on freeing all the remaining hostages, getting aid into Gaza at the massive scale that is needed and preventing an even more devastating regional conflict."
More than 200 people in Israel, including Americans, were taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he wouldn't support a cease-fire unless hostages are released.
Senior Hamas officials on Tuesday said an agreement was near that would include the militant group freeing hostages and Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.
Meanwhile, the House resolution, which now has 18 supporters, hasn't progressed since its introduction in October - but Ramirez hasn't let the issue die.
This month, she and five fellow Democrats - Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Cori Bush of Missouri, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, all among the most progressive members of Congress - proposed legislation opposing the transfer of $320 million in precision bomb equipment to Israel.
Ramirez, whose district runs from Chicago's Northwest Side into DuPage County, repeatedly has expressed her opposition to the war on social media as well.
"How many murdered children will it take? How many hostages buried under rubble? How many refugee camps bombed?" Ramirez posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Nov. 5. "How much more brutality must we witness before the US demands a #CeasefireNOW?"
Other members of Illinois' House delegation have supported Israel and oppose efforts to place military or political restrictions on U.S. aid.
"Neither Palestinians nor Israelis will know peace so long as Hamas holds hostages, controls Gaza, and retains its ability to attack Israelis," Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Highland Park said in a news release. "Conditioning aid to Israel will move peace further away, threatening both Israeli and Palestinian lives rather than saving them."
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Chicago Democrat whose 5th District includes much of the Northwest suburbs, has supported Israel's effort to defeat Hamas.
"Hamas' goal is eliminating Israel but it is also the enemy of Palestinians and a two-state solution," Quigley wrote in a Nov. 12 post on X. "We must remain focused on destroying Hamas while also advocating for innocent Palestinian lives."
• Daily Herald wire services contributed to this report.