Kansas City Rep. Emanuel Cleaver joins calls for cease-fire: 'Guns should go silent'

In a meeting with constituents and faith leaders, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat from Kansas City, said he now supports a cease-fire in the Israel-Gaza war. He stopped short of saying he would sign the Ceasefire Now Resolution.
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II said for the first time on Saturday that he is in favor of a cease-fire in Gaza.

The Kansas City Democrat also committed to withdrawing House Bill 6367, the Armed Conflict Migration Act, which is meant to facilitate humanitarian aid in Gaza but which critics say could inadvertently enable the displacement of Palestinians.

“We have to have a cessation of hostilities,” Cleaver told KCUR. “I think guns should go silent. We need to cease the fighting.”

Cleaver’s comments echoed those he made during a meeting with 15 constituents and advocates at his Kansas City, Missouri, office. In attendance were members of activist groups including Al-Hadaf KC and KC Tenants, whose members were among several constituents present who said they had lost family members in the bombardment of Gaza. Also in attendance were Muslim and Christian faith leaders, attorneys and members of the Palestinian American Medical Association, who spoke to the situation at the Al Shifa Hospital.