US Democrats call for 'immediate ceasefire', as Reps play blame game
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US Democratic and Republican officials continue to quarrel over the best way to support "Israel" ahead of the splitting presidential election.
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President Joe Biden, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris speak in Largo, United States, August 15, 2024. (AP)
Following the announcement of the deaths of six Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip, US lawmakers have expressed sharply divergent opinions, mirroring the conflicted Israeli sentiments.
Among those announced dead on Sunday was a dual-citizen with American nationality, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose family has been closely involved with top Democratic American officials throughout the period of the war on Gaza.
Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of another Israeli captive with American citizenship, made strong statements criticizing Benjamin Netanyahu's government for failing to reach a ceasefire with the Palestinian Resistance. Dekel-Chen, like many Israelis, believes that Netanyahu's complacency and erratic maneuvers in mediated negotiations have cost Israeli captives their lives.
This sentiment isn't limited to ordinary settlers but is echoed by Israeli security and military officials, as well as prominent opposition figures like Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz.
Dekel-Chen, who spoke with CBS, stressed that the "entire senior military establishment and intelligence community has been saying publicly and openly for weeks and months that the time has come to end the fighting in Gaza."
"Get our hostages home, as many alive as possible," he said.
An end to the war on Gaza has become the only viable option for returning the remaining captives in the Gaza Strip, as military and commandos operations have seen little success or been too costly.
Read more: Mass protests erupt in Tel Aviv over death of 6 captives in Gaza
Democrats, Republicans clash over type of support ahead of splitting election
Top-ranking US Democratic Senator Dick Durbin was among those who shared this view, as he underlined the need for an immediate ceasefire "that allows all remaining hostages to be released."
On the other hand, Republican lawmakers had a different opinion on how to secure the release of the captives, blaming the Biden administration for not supporting the Israeli regime strongly enough.
"They continue to encourage and embolden Hamas" with calls for a ceasefire, said Republican Senator Tom Cotton.
"I would urge him (Netanyahu) to finish the job against Hamas, which is exactly what Kamala Harris and Joe Biden should have done from the very beginning," Cotton said when asked about what the Israeli Prime Minister should do at this juncture.
Some, such as renowned warmonger Senator Lindsey Graham, went as far as calling on the Biden administration to target Iran's oil refineries if the captives are not released.
Meanwhile, Harris, the current Democratic presidential nominee for the upcoming elections, had just only pledged her "unequivocal and unwavering" commitment to the Israeli regime's security.
Commenting on Sunday's events, Harris did not renew calls for a ceasefire but instead condemned the Islamic Resistance Movement - Hamas, blaming it for the deaths of the captives.
"Hamas is an evil terrorist organization. With these murders, Hamas has even more American blood on its hands. I strongly condemn Hamas' continued brutality, and so must the entire world," Harris said.
Read more: Hamas says Netanyahu chose Philadelphi Corridor over captives
