On March 12, 2024, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACPD) passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The resolution was crafted in part by several members of the LACDP who are members of Democrats for Israel (DFI) – Los Angeles. Those DFI–LA members were acting as individuals, as Democrats for Israel – Los Angeles has not taken a formal position in favor or in opposition to a ceasefire. The LACDP reported that DFI–Los Angeles co-authored the resolution. That was not accurate. Furthermore, the resolution omitted several critical items.

We remind LACDP and others that it was Hamas that started this conflict by violating a ceasefire with Israel with its October 7, 2023 brutal assault on innocent Israel civilians, the single worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Moreover, Hamas terrorists continue to use the Palestinian civilians in Gaza as human shields while they hide in tunnels underneath Gaza, or use hospitals as staging grounds. DFI–LA decries the casualties among the civilian population of Gaza, and holds both Hamas and its Iranian benefactors as the primary responsible parties for this crisis. But any ceasefire that does not include the release of all hostages, the return of the bodies of all victims of Hamas’ October 7 surprise attack, and the removal of Hamas’ control of Gaza, is both unacceptable and counterproductive. Hamas’ repeated commitment to continue attacks such as the October 7 massacre makes it clear there can be no lasting peace between the Palestinian people and the people of Israel so long as Hamas remains in power in Gaza.

Furthermore, Democrats for Israel – Los Angeles calls for the LACDP, and the California Democratic Party, to acknowledge the continued rape and abuse of female victims and female hostages by Hamas and its allies, both on the day of the October 7, 2023 attack, and during the many months that they have been held in captivity in Gaza.

Democrats for Israel – Los Angeles is hopeful that a lasting, if not permanent, ceasefire in Gaza becomes possible. Indeed, DFI–LA is also hopeful that a lasting peace WILL emerge, allowing both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and prosperity, rather than in constant conflict.