Gavin Newsom calls for immediate cease-fire in Gaza, condemning loss of life in Israel-Hamas war

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, he said in an open letter to California’s Muslim, Palestinian American and Arab American communities published Thursday evening, decrying violence that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Newsom echoed President Joe Biden in calling for a cease-fire, saying in his open letter that “none of us should be able to witness the deaths of thousands upon thousands of civilians in Gaza without our hearts breaking.” Newsom called the Palestinian death toll “so vast that it seems few Palestinians across the world have been spared personal loss.”

“So let me be clear — I condemn the ongoing and horrific loss of innocent civilian life in Gaza. I support President Biden’s call for an immediate ceasefire as part of a deal to secure desperately needed relief for Gazan civilians and the release of hostages,” Newsom said in the letter. “I also unequivocally denounce Hamas’s terrorist attack against Israel.”

In the letter, Newsom cited an uptick in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab American bias in the state, with bias events rising more than 44% from 2021 to 2022, and a spike in anti-Muslim incidents after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 Israelis and precipitated the ongoing war in Gaza.

Newsom said that spike is “the largest documented surge of its kind since late 2015 and early 2016, amidst calls for a Muslim ban. And now, many Muslim and Arab American communities report a level of fear comparable to the months following 9/11.”

In his letter, the governor spoke of efforts to push back against anti-Muslim hatred, including challenging then-President Donald Trump’s ban on travel from Muslim-majority nations; expanding funds for security grants for churches, synagogues and mosques; working with California’s universities and colleges to promote student safety; and passing a first-in-the-nation ethnic studies course requirement law that includes lessons dedicated to Arab Americans.

Then there is the ongoing effort, including by the California National Guard, to attempt to deliver aid to Gaza in the form of food and medical supplies.

“Still, these contributions are no substitute for the enormous surge of aid that Gazan civilians desperately need. And while our anti-hate efforts here in California are an important start, there is more work ahead,” Newsom wrote.

The letter was welcomed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations California Chapter, with CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush saying in a statement: “We are invigorated to see the Governor ultimately decide to take action and commend him for his commitment to peace and justice amid the heartbreaking violence that has tragically resulted in the death of over 30,000 Palestinians.”

This story was originally published March 22, 2024 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Gavin Newsom calls for immediate cease-fire in Gaza, condemning loss of life in Israel-Hamas war."