As campus protests over Gaza bloodshed grow, Delaware House passes cease-fire resolution

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect recent statements by Delaware's congressional delegation.

Delaware House of Representatives on Thursday passed a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

The resolution also calls for the release of hostages held in Israel's war with Hamas, the delivery of sustained humanitarian aid in the ravaged territory as well as "diplomatic action" to bring about "long-term and mutually respectful peace" in the region.

"I just want to thank members on both sides of the aisle for working together on language we can all agree to," said state Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, a Newark Democrat and the resolution's primary sponsor.

Following a fiery debate on a failed cease-fire resolution in January, Thursday's resolution passed the House without any dissent or debate. The language of the resolution acknowledges death on both sides of the conflict.

It notes the 1,200 killed during Hamas' Oct. 7 incursion into Israel and calls for the release of hostages that remain held since that day. It also recognizes the more than 34,000 Palestinians who have been killed by Israel's military bombardment and invasion of the territory since.

Editor's note: The resolution is posted at the bottom of this story.

Israel's military campaign has leveled civilian infrastructure and entire neighborhoods in the 140 square mile territory that is one of the most densely populated and impoverished areas in the world. The resolution also recognizes the humanitarian crisis that continues to grow for displaced Palestinians in Gaza.

Earlier this week, David Satterfield, the U.S. regional envoy for humanitarian issues, said the risk of famine in Gaza, especially in the north, was “very high.”

Gaza has seen a "slight increase" in the number of aid trucks arriving from Egypt and Jordan, but Federico Dessi, Middle East director for the aid group Humanity & Inclusion told USA TODAY, "it is still far below the level we need."

The resolution also recognizes more than 480 health care workers and 97 journalists who have been killed in Gaza since October. A host of international political leaders, aid groups and watchdogs have called for investigation of potential war crimes since October.

Recent: State lawmaker among few Delaware officials protesting for permanent cease-fire in Gaza

Wilson-Anton said the point is to send a message that elected representatives on behalf of their constituents are calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid. She noted the rippling of the conflict through the Middle East and fears it could spread further.

"Every day we don't have a ceasefire, more people are killed and more people are put in danger," she said in an interview after the vote.

Wilson-Anton has been critical of Delaware's congressional delegation and local leaders for not using their voice and platform to end the bloodshed as tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since October.

Through United Nations vetoes and public statements, the administration of President Joe Biden and Delaware's congressional delegation stood by Israel's military actions as the death toll rose into the tens of thousands.

In March, U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester became the only member of Delaware's congressional delegation to call for a long term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, also advocating for an eventual, permanent two-state solution.

U.S. Sens. Chris Coons and Tom Carper have not released any statements advocating for an immediate end to the military campaign, but both senators signed a letter to President Joe Biden in early February urging the administration to bring more humanitarian aid into Gaza. In March, the two signed onto a letter calling for Biden to "establish" the "framework" for the "U.S. to recognize a nonmilitarized Palestinian state."

The resolution follows months of protests around the country and in Delaware demanding U.S. leaders, including Delaware's congressional delegation, to stop facilitating Israel's bombing campaign in the territory.

Most recently, national attention has been focused on protests spreading across U.S. college campuses. On Wednesday, hundreds marched at the University of Delaware in protest of Palestinian bloodshed, according to a Delaware Public Media report.

It follows months of protest by Delawareans as well.

Scores of protesters marched on President Joe Biden's Greenville residence in November. Weeks later, an uncharacteristically large crowd of protesters successfully petitioned the Wilmington City Council to support a resolution calling for a permanent cease-fire.

Earlier this spring, protesters interrupted Gov. John Carney's State of the State speech. More recently, regular protests have occurred outside Biden's home as well as the Wilmington residences of Coons and Carper.

The protesters have argued that Delaware has a role to play in ending the bloodshed.

Recent: At State of the State speech, protesters draw attention to starvation, death in Gaza

They've pointed to the fact that Delaware is Biden's home and its politicians have special relationships with the president as well as the state's congressional leaders. They've also noted the shipments of armaments to Israel from Dover Air Force Base and the flow of billions in U.S. military aid to Israel.

On Wednesday, Biden signed legislation that, among many other things, includes $5 billion to replenish Israel's defenses and $1 billion for Gazan citizens, according to reporting in The New York Times.

Wilson-Anton argued that military aid could be better spent "creating opportunities" for people in Delaware.

"Why is our priority warfare?" she said.

Local protesters have argued that local politicians and voters alike should be using their platform to pressure Biden to end or condition military aid that goes to Israel and use his leverage to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to engage in a long-term diplomatic solution.

Most recently, that attention has focused on staving off an invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza where more than one million Palestinians have taken shelter. Israeli officials have said they intend to invade the area to root out Hamas. 

In March, Biden warned that an invasion of Rafah would be a “mistake,” but last week the White House said the U.S. and Israel have a “shared objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah.”

After Thursday's vote, Rep. Mike Ramone, a Pike Creek Republican, said if members of the House who are not "100 percent" in agreement on the issue can be compassionate, considerate and kind, "they can do it anywhere."

The resolution will move to the Delaware Senate for a potential vote in the coming weeks.

Reporting from USA Today contributed to this article.

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware House OKs cease-fire resolution as protests over Gaza swell