Governor Gavin Newsom calls for ceasefire in Gaza

By Samiya Kamal | calmatters

Governor Gavin Newsom said today that he supports President Biden’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza, citing the “continued and appalling loss of innocent civilian life.”

“I support President Biden’s call for an immediate ceasefire as part of an agreement to provide much-needed relief to Gazan civilians and the release of hostages,” he said. wrote in a letter Addressed to California’s Muslim, Palestinian American, and Arab American communities. “I also unequivocally condemn Hamas’ terrorist attack against Israel. It is time to work sincerely toward a lasting peace that will provide the lasting security, autonomy and freedom that both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples deserve.

This statement of Newsom came a day ago US plans to ask UN Security Council To support the ceasefire proposal, and in accordance with other leaders making more forceful calls for Israel to change its conduct of the war.

On March 3, Vice President Kamala HarrisThe former US senator from California called for an immediate, but temporary ceasefire – the strongest statement yet from the Biden administration.

Following his State of the Union address on March 7, when he announced a new effort to bring humanitarian aid by sea, President Biden Called for a six-week ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner exchange. And in a call this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the president expressed concern about the civilian death toll and Israel’s blockade of aid deliveries, according to a white house summary,

And on March 14, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official, Called for new elections in Israelsaying on the Senate floor Netanyahu is an “obstacle to peace” and “too willing to tolerate civilian deaths in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel around the world to historic lows.”

Today’s statement from the governor, sent during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, comes after months of criticism from ceasefire supporters that they were not even handed In his stance on the Gaza war,

But in California, views have been more mixed.

More than 60% of potential voters A survey released last month by the Public Policy Institute of California found support for an immediate ceasefire in California. But they are more divided on the issue of increasing, reducing or maintaining military aid to Israel and humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

Although the state’s Jewish Democrats have been divided over the call for a ceasefire, Newsom’s move puts him at odds with those who have opposed the idea — including U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, who is running for U.S. Senate in November. Have moved forward in the elections to be held in . Schiff said earlier this month that a ceasefire should be contingent on Hamas releasing hostages kidnapped by Israel, and “the obstacle to achieving that temporary ceasefire is Hamas.”

Assembly Republicans have called for a resolution condemning Hamas. And in response to Newsom’s letter, Jim Stanley, a spokesman for Assembly GOP leader James Gallagher, accused the governor Treating Israeli hostages as an “afterthought”.

In the letter, Newsom acknowledged the suffering of the Muslim community – particularly those who lost family and friends in Gaza.

He said, “The level of suffering in Gaza is so great that it seems few Palestinians around the world have escaped personal loss.” “And now rising disease and hunger, especially among children, threaten to deepen the devastation. this is unacceptable.”

Newsom said he would “always defend your right to participate in the California tradition of peaceful protest – to publicly express opposition to any war or government decision, including the war in Gaza.”

Officials with the California chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations and other groups have been pressuring the governor for months — including a meeting in decemberWhere community leaders and organizers from across the state asked the Governor to call for a permanent ceasefire.

Hussam, CEO of CAIR California, said, “We are pleased to report that after several months of advocacy by various groups, including a meeting convened by CAIR-CA with the Governor and Muslim leaders this afternoon, Governor Newsom “Joined the strong global call for a ceasefire.” Aylosh.