US Education Leaders Support the UN Security Council Resolution Endorsing Plan to End Israel-Hamas War in Gaza

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten, Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram and Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus issued the following statement:

“The AFT fully supports the U.N. Security Council resolution unanimously endorsing President Joe Biden’s plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. We are heartened by the leadership shown by Biden and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, which appears to have yielded hope for the people of the region. The timing could not be more opportune, with Secretary of State Blinken already in the region.

“The AFT has long supported efforts toward a bilateral cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The time is overdue for ending the death and destruction that has come with this war and moving to multilateral negotiations as called for in the resolution.

“We hope that Hamas and Israel will also do everything that the world calls out for to bring a new chapter to Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Weingarten added: “The AFT looks forward to a moment when all peoples in the region—Palestinian and Jew, and so many others—will have peace, security and self-determination. We believe, as we have for years, that takes the form of two states for two peoples. But right now, we are bearing witness to one of the most catastrophic human losses in decades. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains and will take years to resolve. It’s time to end the war, bring the hostages home and rebuild Gaza. The moment could not be more urgent.”