Democratic Senator Gives Biden New Headache

Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, has called for a ceasefire in Gaza on Thursday as President Joe Biden remains strong in his stance to back Israel in its war with Hamas.

On October 7, Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack on Israel in history. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest-ever airstrikes on Gaza.

According to Israeli officials, 1,400 people in Israel were killed in the attack, the Associated Press reported, while 8,805 Palestinians have died in the conflict as of Wednesday, according to officials from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country is "at war" and has cut off supplies of food, fuel, electricity and medicine into Gaza.

More than a dozen House Democrats, such as Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, have pleaded with the White House to back a ceasefire in Gaza, in an effort to save Palestinian civilians.

Meanwhile, the Senate has remained quiet, until Durbin, who holds the second-highest ranking position among the Senate Democrats as Majority Whip, called for a ceasefire.

When asked by CNN's Poppy Harlow if a ceasefire in Gaza is needed, Durbin said: "I think it is. At least in the context of both sides agreeing. For example, the release of those who have been kidnapped should be part of this, immediate release, that should be the beginning of it. An effort should be made to engage in conversation between the Israelis and the Palestinians."

Durbin added: "Let's face it, this has gone on for decades. Whatever the rationale from the beginning is [it] has now reached an intolerable level. We need to have a resolution in the Middle East that gives some promise for the future."

When asked if he had talked to Biden about a ceasefire, he said: "No, I have not communicated with the White House on that."

Newsweek has reached out to Durbin and the White House for comment via email.

Biden, who has maintained his position on Israel's right to self-defense, has refrained from using the word ceasefire. On Wednesday night, when confronted by a heckler calling for a ceasefire at a campaign event, Biden said, "I think we need a pause. A pause means give time to get the prisoners out."

"We do not believe that a ceasefire is the right answer right now," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said this week. "We believe that a ceasefire right now benefits Hamas, and Hamas is the only one that would gain from that right now as Israel continues to prosecute their operations against Hamas leadership."

People on social media pointed out how Durbin's remarks came before progressive democratic Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts made a call for a ceasefire, which they have still not done.

Newsweek has contacted Sanders and Warren for comment by email.

Sanders and Warren, along with Democratic Sens. Peter Welch of Vermont and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, wrote a letter to Biden on Wednesday sharing their concerns over the risks associated with a large-scale ground invasion in Gaza.

"We have serious concerns about what this invasion and potential occupation of Gaza will mean, both in terms of the long-term security of Israel and the well-being of the Palestinian residents of Gaza," they wrote in the letter.

Jeff Stein, a journalist with The Washington Post shared a video of Durbin's interview on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: "Durbin backs ceasefire before Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren or Joe Biden."

"Dick Durbin (?!!) is the first Democratic senator to call for a ceasefire. Yes, before Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren," Emma Vigeland, co-host of political talk show The Majority Report, wrote on X. "And this is potentially even more impactful, as Durbin is the second-highest ranking Democrat in the Senate. Thank you @DickDurbin."

An X user who goes by Cheyenne said: "Dick Durbin calling for a ceasefire before Bernie Sanders is insane, lmao."

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