With the June 4th primary looming, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9) says that “Hamas must agree to a ceasefire deal that gets hostages out and humanitarian aid in.”
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I agree wholeheartedly with the president that Hamas must agree to the ceasefire deal being negotiated that gets hostages out and humanitarian aid in. The scale of suffering in Gaza is ghastly and unacceptable, and my heart aches for those affected. President Biden has been relentless seeking a brokered deal that allows more humanitarian aid into Gaza to ease this suffering and preserve life,” Pascrell said in a statement.
“The Biden administration was right to start air dropping supplies, but a trickle of aid cannot suffice. Only with a ceasefire of hostilities can we provide the robust support and medical care necessary to address this crisis of historic proportion. As always, our long-term goal must be two states living side-by-side in peace and security.”
Pascrell, 87, who was first elected to Congress in 1996, is currently in his 14th term in the House of Representatives and is seeking another.
Yesterday, news began to circulate that Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah, who was disinvited from a White House celebration for Eid al-Fitar last year, would be announcing a challenge to the incumbent this week, as Insider NJ first reported.
Members of the Muslim community in the 9th District have been critical of Pascrell in recent memory for not supporting a Gaza ceasefire.
The filing deadline for federal candidates this election cycle is March 25th, with Republican Billy Prempeh eyeing a third matchup against Pascrell after losing to him in 2022 by a margin of about 55 percent to 43.6. percent.
The 9th District includes Secaucus and part of Kearny and Pascrell already has the backing of Democratic leadership in Bergen, Passaic, and Hudson Counties, along with Gov. Phil Murphy (D).