Congresswoman Ramirez Statement on NO Vote on H.Res. 771

Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement:

“I unequivocally condemn Hamas’ horrifying terrorist attack on Israel: the worst perpetration of violence inflicted on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. I join my colleagues in calling for the immediate and safe release of any and all hostages. I grieve with my friends, colleagues, and constituents whose futures are forever changed.

I couldn’t vote for today’s resolution. It was incomplete, and I was offered no opportunity to submit changes. When I consider legislation, I ask myself, does this proposal honor our shared humanity? Does it bring us closer to peace through a two-state solution? The resolution filed on October 11 did not honor our shared humanity, did not advance a two-state solution, and did not recognize the interconnectedness of the Israeli and Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation and safety. 

We cannot unequivocally support or condone the Israeli government’s collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The Palestinian people are not Hamas. We must use our collective voice and influence to end the siege that has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 Palestinian children, displaced thousands of Palestinians, and limited the humanitarian aid that can reach the region. Violence cannot bring peace, and atrocities cannot justify further war crimes. 

I affirm my commitment to de-escalation, ceasefire, and diplomacy, and I call on my colleagues to use our significant influence and power to protect human rights, advance international law, and ensure humanitarian aid to those impacted by the escalating violence, including Gaza’s 1.4 million children under the age of 14 living without adequate food, water, and electricity. Our actions must support a true and lasting peace in the region.

I believe in a future where Israelis and Palestinians are free and safe. Our futures are interconnected, and that realization can provide a path to liberation and coexistence. We will not get there through a missile barrage or the barrel of a gun.”