Texas Democrat urges Biden to call for Gaza cease-fire in State of the Union address

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) is calling on President Biden to call for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas during Thursday night’s State of the Union address, citing “war crimes” on both sides.

“I believe Hamas committed a war crime on October 7th. I think it’s now very clear that Israel committed a war crime. They are purposely starving people and Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people are starving,” Castro said on CNN early Thursday. Highlighted by Mediaite.

“Therefore, the president should absolutely call for a ceasefire tonight. Either the United States and the president and Congress stand up for the human rights that America professes to believe in, and we will do so, or we stand still and do nothing. “Either let these people starve to death,” he continued.

Biden is scheduled to address both chambers of Congress Thursday night at a critical time for his campaign ahead of what is expected to be a rematch with former President Trump in the general election.

He faces growing opposition from Democrats over his handling of the Middle East wars. For months, progressives have criticized Biden for not calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

More than 45,000 Democratic primary voters in Minnesota chose “no commit” in their primary ballots, as did more than 100,000 Democrats in Michigan, as a way to protest Biden’s actions since October. .

Mr. Castro said in the interview that he hoped Mr. Biden would call for a ceasefire and “strike back as strongly as possible against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

The Texas Democrat said he believed Hamas committed a war crime on Oct. 7 after “seeing the footage,” but said he believed Hamas committed a war crime on Oct. 7, but also “starved children and continued… He also claimed that “the suffering caused by the war” was also a war crime.

“Benyamin Netanyahu’s government is currently committing war crimes, and we must confront them,” Castro said.