NEW HAVEN, Conn. — More than 9,000 people have been killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7th, and that number is continuing to grow. On Thursday, a group of people gathered outside Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro's office in New Haven to give names to those numbers, and call for action from lawmakers.
“We see the numbers, but the numbers don’t do justice to who these people are," said Rev. Allie Perry of Shalom United Church of Christ in New Haven.
Rev. Perry called on others to get together and bring humanity to the Israel-Hamas war.
“We’re here to humanize it. Because this is a situation that’s been very de-humanized, on both sides," Rev. Perry said.
Perry called for peace, by reading a poem. The poem said, in part, "I’m taking the side of peace, who’s name has barely been spoken in this winner-less war.”
The group held up signs as they read aloud the names, calling for a cease-fire. They chose Rep. DeLauro's office for that reason.
"The Biden administration and congress have failed to now, to call for a cease fire," Rev. Perry said. "We need our leaders to know these are individual people, these are families. We need them to have moral clarity. We need them to have a moral compass.”
The idea of the cease-fire is something University of New Haven professor, Dr. Howard Stoffer, said isn't likely to happen right now. Stoffer is a professor of National Security. He has 25 years of experience working in the Foreign Service for the U.S. State Department, including in Israel.
"After losing 1,400 people brutally as they were slaughtered by the Hamas on Oct. 7th and 8th, Israel is not prepared to do a cease-fire at this time because they have said, they want to take out the leadership that authorized that kind of attack and those that carried out that attack," Stoffer said.
Stoffer said a more reasonable approach would be a humanitarian pause...which is something come lawmakers, including Rep. DeLauro, have called for.
"To let more humanitarian aid get in without the fear of a bombing attack. And at the same time, to allow those people who have foreign passports to get out. And it would also give people time who are in northern Gaza to leave the area," Stoffer said.
However, for the people gathered on the streets of New Haven on Thursday, a pause wouldn't be enough.
"It’s cruel to think a pause is going to make any difference if the fighting and the bombing is going to continue and the ground invasion," Rev. Perry said.
A spokesperson for Rep. DeLauro's office said that she was in Washington for appropriations on Thursday, and couldn't make it to the event. They said a staff member met with those gathered outside, heard their remarks and received their materials. They said DeLauro appreciates when people make their voices heard, and will keep their opinions in mind as she works in Washington.
In the meantime, Rep. DeLauro did send out a statement on the Israel-Gaza conflict earlier in the week. That statement can be read in full, below.
“Twenty-three days ago, Israel faced the most devastating terrorist attack in its history. Over 1,400 Israelis were killed and over 5,000 were injured. Hamas’s surprise attack inflicted horrific violence on innocent civilians, forever separated families, and resulted in the capture of over 200 hostages – some of which are Americans. Hamas’s attack has created a humanitarian crisis for civilians living in Gaza. That is why I am calling for a humanitarian pause in the fighting to allow for the restoration of power and water in the region and the rapid, safe, and uninterrupted distribution of humanitarian aid, including food, water, medicine, and fuel, to innocent civilians. I am also urging the unconditional release of all remaining hostages. I strongly believe that we must end Hamas’s ongoing terror in the region to create a lasting peace. Everyone will be hurt if Hamas remains in control of Gaza. However, this war is against Hamas. The Palestinian people are not Hamas, and they sadly have lost communities, neighborhoods, and loved ones because of this conflict and Hamas’s atrocities. I strongly believe Israel has the right to defend itself and protect its citizens in accordance with international law. Additionally, we must quickly pass legislation that meets the needs outlined in President Biden’s security supplemental request to ensure Palestinian civilians receive the humanitarian assistance they need to survive as well as emergency assistance to Israel. We must quickly provide resources to lessen the impact of this war on civilians. Failure to do so would have devastating consequences.”
-Rep. Rosa DeLauro
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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