NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A rally was held outside New Haven City Hall on Wednesday, with protestors calling for a ceasefire to avoid further escalation in the Israel-Hamas war.
Hundreds of people attended the rally, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace New Haven and the Mending Minyan Solidarity Committee, to send a strong message. Organizers told News 8 they want to avoid further escalation in what is already a catastrophic loss of life and massive destruction.
“It is our sacred task as Jews in the U.S. to fight for the humanity of all,” Mikveh Warshaw of Mending Minyan said.
The group marched from city hall to Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s office nearby, with people honking and shouting messages of support along the way. They wanted to ensure she heard their pleas and urged her to take action in Congress.
They dropped off letters to both New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and DeLauro to express the urgency of the situation and the support needed from the community.
“We pray for and hope for the avoidance of any civilian causalities, any civilian loss of life, of innocent people in this conflict, whether it’s Israelis or Palestinians,” Elicker said.
On a federal level, they’re calling on DeLaruo to support a resolution that urges the Biden administration to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire to send humanitarian assistance to Gaza and to save as many lives as possible.
DeLauro released the following statement to News 8:
“Israel has our unequivocal support as they seek to defeat Hamas. While they engage in that effort, they should take every precaution to protect innocent lives. As we work to ensure Israel receives the resources it needs to defend itself, I hope that we can also ensure the Palestinian people quickly receive the humanitarian aid they need to survive. Failure to do so expeditiously will have disastrous consequences.
I am glad the Biden administration has announced that it will immediately provide $100 million in humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. As the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have also given strong support to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the primary agency responsible for Palestinian refugees across the region. In last year’s budget, we were able to secure an additional $75 million to address extraordinary food needs in Gaza. Altogether, this funding will help support the innocent and displaced civilians caught in the middle of this conflict and ensure they have access to clean water, food, medical care, and other essential needs.
The Palestinian people are not Hamas. This war is against Hamas, not the Palestinian people. Palestinians have also lost communities and even loved ones because of Hamas’s atrocities. The people of Gaza deserve a better future. Peace must be our ultimate goal. That means a two-state solution and an end to settlement expansion. We must bring this war to a swift end and strive for a solution that promotes lasting peace.”
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said he will head to the Middle East in the coming days with a bipartisan delegation.
