Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) called for a "lasting ceasefire" in the conflict between Israel and Hamas as a temporary ceasefire between the two sides enters its third day.
Khanna pushed for a continuation of the ceasefire for several reasons, including to allow more hostages to be freed from Hamas, while speaking on ABC's This Week on Sunday.
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"A couple of reasons. First, we need more of the hostages to be released, and we see now that it's working. Second, there are still Americans in Gaza. We need those Americans and American families to be released. The third point is this — Israel has diminished Hamas' military capability. They now have troops to prevent another Oct. 7th attack," Khanna said.
He also said he has talked to officials in the Middle East and said that Israel is going to be unable to kill the vast number of Hamas fighters or "undermine the political and cultural influence of Hamas," so a two-state solution is needed to alleviate the conflict.
Khanna also argued that diplomacy should be the way forward rather than more fighting.
"There has to be a diplomatic solution until there is an independent Palestinian state. There is not going to be peace or security in that region, and America needs to show leadership. I believe our Gulf allies will help us if we bring the diverse Palestinian voices to the table," Khanna said. "There needs to be one condition. Any Palestinian voice at that table needs to recognize the state of Israel, and then we need to work towards an independent Palestinian state."
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He also added that Hamas should not be given a seat at the negotiating table, despite the terrorist group being the government in Gaza.
Shortly after Khanna's remarks, President Joe Biden confirmed that a 4-year-old American-Israeli girl named Abigail Edan was among the hostages who had been safely transported out of Gaza on Sunday. In remarks about the release, Biden pushed for an extension of the ceasefire and the release of more hostages.