Somerville and Cambridge Become First Two Mass. Municipalities to Formally Call for Ceasefire in Gaza

WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement applauding the Cambridge and Somerville City Councils for passing resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. On Monday evening, Cambridge became the second municipality in Massachusetts to formally call for a ceasefire after Somerville’s historic vote last week.

In Congress, Rep. Pressley has been a consistent and vocal advocate for diplomacy, de-escalation, and saving lives, and was one of the first lawmakers to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“I’m grateful to our colleagues in Somerville and Cambridge for their courage and solidarity, and to the activists on the global and grassroots levels who made this important progress possible. From Massachusetts to the Middle East, our destinies are tied and our pro-peace, pro-humanity movement is strong,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “As we continue pushing federally for an indefinite, lasting ceasefire to save lives, release all hostages, and ensure the swift delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, I am so proud to see municipalities in the Massachusetts 7^th leading the way locally. With over 25,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis killed, over a hundred still held hostage by Hamas, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsening daily, we must move with the urgency this moment demands.”

Last week, at the steps of the Boston Public Library, Rep. Pressley joined a coalition of interfaith clergy and faith leaders for a vigil to mourn the tens of thousands of Palestinians, Israelis, and innocent civilians killed since October 7th, and to renew calls for a ceasefire to save lives, return all hostages, and deliver humanitarian aid to the region. The vigil was the largest public gathering of clergy and faith leaders for a ceasefire in Greater Boston since the brutal Hamas attack on October 7.

Throughout this conflict, Rep. Pressley has been a vocal and consistent advocate of diplomacy, de-escalation, and saving lives.

• Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and their colleagues on a resolution condemning Hamas’ brutal attack and hostage-taking, and demanding Hamas immediately release all hostages.
• Rep. Pressley joined Reps. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), James P. McGovern (MA-02), and 50 colleagues on a letter condemning the terrorist attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel, calling for Israeli military operations to follow the rules of international humanitarian law, and continuing to work toward peace in the region.
• Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues in announcing a resolution urging the Biden Administration to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, to send humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza, and to save as many lives as possible. She later joined her colleagues and a multi-faith, multiracial coalition of faith leaders and organizers for a prayer and press conference to renew their calls for a ceasefire. Rep. Pressley also joined dozens of rabbis and Members of Congress for a press conference to renew calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she condemned antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate on college campuses.
• Rep. Pressley joined a coalition of nearly 100 interfaith clergy and faith leaders on a joint statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley joined Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and nearly 150 colleagues in urging the State Department to use all tools at its disposal help get Americans out of Israel and back home to the United States. She applauded the State Department for heeding her calls on October 12, 2023 and continues to press for the urgent evacuation of Americans in Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement following the safe evacuation of Massachusetts constituents Wafaa and Abood Okal and their one-year-old Yousef from Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley and Rep. Jamie Raskin led a group of 60 House lawmakers in urging the State Department to affirm the United States’ strong opposition to the forced and permanent displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, and to support an increase in humanitarian aid to the region.
• Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Mark Pocan (WI-2), Betty McCollum (MN-4) and 20 of their colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden, asking him to support a bilateral ceasefire in Gaza to protect the one million children living there.

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