Rep. Gallego supports Biden administration calls for 'immediate' ceasefire in Gaza
U.S. Senate candidate Ruben Gallego on Monday echoed the Biden administration's call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday said a temporary ceasefire could facilitate a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. This morning Gallego, like Harris, also called on Israel to increase the flow of aid to Palestinians.
“Israel needs to be doing everything possible to be rushing in aid. The hold ups are inhumane and unnecessary,” Gallego said during a press conference at the state Capitol. “You can have both security and provide for humanitarian assistance.”
Gallego added that the United States can balance the need to stand with Israel in support of their long-term survival while also limiting civilian casualties in Gaza. He’s certain the Biden administration is doing just that, and hopes Hamas will come to the negotiating table.
Harris was scheduled to meet with a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet on Monday.
“The president, I think, is having those conversations. I think a lot of those are happening in private, which I think does frustrate people, but it is something that needs to continue,” Gallego said. “And I think it's in the best interests of all parties involved to get to a ceasefire.”
Republican Kari Lake, Gallego’s likely opponent for the U.S. Senate seat in November, said in a statement on social media that Gallego “cannot be trusted to stand with Israel.”
“[Gallego] refused to condemn anti-Semitism at Harvard, Arizona State, and in Congress,” Lake wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Lake has spoken against efforts to send foreign aid to war torn countries, particularly Ukraine, which remains locked in a war with Russia. Like former President Donald Trump, who endorsed her campaign in October, Lake opposed a bipartisan border security package in February that tied stricter border enforcement measures to foreign aid for both Israel and Ukraine.
Gallego’s comments Monday morning came after he announced a strong signature-gathering effort to qualify for the U.S. Senate race.
The Democratic congressman needed roughly 6,500 signatures to get on the ballot. According to a spokesperson, he turned in more than 14,000, all gathered from volunteers who’ve been at work since Gallego launched his campaign a year ago in January.
“This is how we are running this campaign,” Gallego said. “This is a grassroots operation, where we are going Arizonan to Arizonan, not being afraid of conversations and really fighting for their future.”
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