CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A group of staffers for Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago City Council members have called on their bosses to publicly support a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas.
The anonymous group, called Chicago Progressive Staffers, claimed to comprise more than 35 employees. The staffers said they want the immediate release of Israeli hostages and those who they described as "arbitrarily detained Palestinians," as well as the restoration of water, power and humanitarian aid into Gaza
"We are proud to be your staffers; we are proud to work with you; however, we cannot be proud to be silent at a time when silence is complicity in atrocity," they wrote.
As first reported by Politico, the group cited the growing death toll in Gaza and the city hosting next year's DNC as reasons to spur Chicago elected leaders to join calls for a ceasefire.
On Tuesday, Israel and Hamas appeared close to a deal to temporarily halt their devastating, six-week war. The move would allow for dozens of hostages being held in the Gaza Strip to be freed in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Cabinet for a vote, though, he vowed to resume the Israeli offensive against Hamas as soon as the truce ends.
"We are at war, and we will continue the war," he said. "We will continue until we achieve all our goals."
The Israeli Cabinet was expected to vote on a plan that would halt Israel's offensive in Gaza for several days in exchange for the release of about 50 of the 240 hostages held by Hamas. Israel has vowed to continue the war until it destroys Hamas' military capabilities and returns all hostages.
Hamas predicted a Qatari-mediated deal could be reached in "the coming hours."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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