We are long overdue for an end to the horrific war in Gaza that has killed far too many innocent civilians, torn apart families and threatened an escalation into regional war. I continue to call adamantly  for a ceasefire and the return of the hostages, and I strongly support the latest proposal that the Biden-Harris Administration has been working tirelessly to negotiate along with Qatar and Egypt.

For any ceasefire to be successful, ultimately both Israel and Hamas must agree to it. I urge all parties to come to a resolution that would halt the fighting and surge humanitarian aid, food, and medical care to innocent Palestinian civilians suffering in the region, while reuniting the remaining hostages with their families. A ceasefire deal could also facilitate important commitments from the international community to help rebuild schools, homes, and hospitals in Gaza.

Progress is urgently needed to stabilize the region and start building the groundwork for a future two-state structure – which while extremely difficult to achieve, is the only feasible path forward towards durable peace.