By Cierra Genelle
A congresswoman from Pennsylvania is calling for a ceasefire as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.
U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), who represents Montgomery County, is making that call after visiting the Israeli and Palestinian territories.
Dean returned just last week from her second trip to the Middle East amid the ongoing war.
She said the visit allowed her to meet with government leaders to express her call for a bilateral ceasefire.
"What difference can I make? What difference can my voice make? And I come away from it convinced that the suffering in Gaza must stop," said Dean.
She described her recent visit.
"We sadly toured the Nova fields where all the young people were slaughtered," Dean said. "We toured one of the kibbutz that suffered some of the greatest losses of life and horror."
As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the congresswoman said her trip was taken with six other lawmakers who are also Democrats.
The group met with government leaders and other organizations that have been working towards peace for decades.
"The only path is a bilateral ceasefire," Dean said. "Get the hostages home, get the humanitarian aid in, and let the region help build toward a two-state solution."
Dean also called for the release of hostages.
"To just immediately say 'ceasefire,' to me, seemed irresponsible because it seemed as though that meant Israel had no right to prosecute a war, and they did," Dean said. "The attack [on Oct. 7] was barbaric."
"Ceasefire by itself seems to say you'd have both parties," she said. "But we didn't have Hamas at the table."
It's what she said is the growing evolution and understanding of the war that prompted her interest in another visit overseas to use her voice.
"We met with Mr. Netanyahu, and I said those words ("ceasefire"), you know, to signal that history will judge you, just as we are judging this horrific attack by terrorists," Dean said.
President Joseph Biden said he hopes a ceasefire could come as early as Monday and potentially last through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
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