Jeff Merkley becomes second US senator to call for Gaza cease-fire

A US senator called Monday for a cease-fire in Gaza, saying it requires an "immediate cessation of military hostilities by both sides."

"After grimly witnessing accelerating body counts, many Americans, including thousands of Oregonians, have raised their voices to say more must be done to stop the carnage," Jeff Merkley, a Democrat representing Oregon, said in a statement.

"I agree. So today I am calling for a cease-fire," he added.

Noting that a cease-fire requires "an immediate cessation of military hostilities by both sides,” he continued: "But the cease-fire and the negotiations that follow must accomplish a number of objectives or it will not endure."

Merkley called on the Palestinian group Hamas to release all its hostages without conditions and lay down its arms while calling on Israel to end its bombing and shelling and also address the immediate humanitarian challenge.

Calling Hamas' Oct. 7 attack launched on Israel, which has killed around 1,200 Israelis according to official figures, and the abduction of about 240 hostages "horrific," he said, however, that the way Israel has conducted its military campaign "has been deeply disturbing for me and millions of others."

"The whole world was with Israel. (US) President (Joe) Biden flew to Israel and greeted (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu with an emotional and heartfelt embrace," he recalled in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack, which he said reminded Americans of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks against the US.

"When nations are attacked, their rage-fueled responses can include massive mistakes. That was certainly true for America after 9/11," he said, adding that Israel is "also making a massive mistake."

"By waging a war that generates a shocking level of civilian carnage rather than a targeted campaign against Hamas, Israel is burning through its reserves of international support," he said.

"Too many civilians and too many children have died, and we must value each and every child equally, whether they are Israeli or Palestinian."

Merkley has become the second US senator to come out in support of a cease-fire in Gaza following Dick Durbin, a Democrat representing Illinois, who joined over 30 House of Representative members earlier this month to call for a cease-fire.

Durbin said earlier this month that he supports a cease-fire between Israel and Gaza "in the context of both sides agreeing."

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Authorities in Gaza said Monday that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the enclave since Oct. 7 has jumped to over 13,300.

In a statement, the Gaza-based government’s media office said this includes 5,600 children and 3,550 women.

It added that it also includes 201 medical staff, 22 members of civil defense rescue teams and 60 journalists.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave.