Ceasefire Now Resolution

H. Res. 786, also known as the Ceasefire Now Resolution, was a proposed resolution in the United States House of Representatives. The resolution was introduced by Cori Bush (D-MO) in the 118th Congress in October 2023.^[1]

H.Res. 786

Long title	Calling for an immediate deescalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine.
Nicknames	Ceasefire Now Resolution
Number of co-sponsors	17
Legislative history
Introduced in the House of Representatives by Cori Bush (D–MO) on October 16, 2023 Committee consideration by House Foreign Affairs

The resolution calls the killing of civilians a violation of international law, cites the deaths of Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans and the potential for more deaths as reason for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, and calls for the sending of humanitarian aid to Gaza.^[2]

Response

Politicians

The resolution received support from 17 Democratic representatives and no Republican support. President Biden initially rejected calls for a ceasefire, saying, "As long as Hamas clings to its ideology of destruction, a cease-fire is not peace."^[3] Biden instead called for "humanitarian pauses."^[4] Eventually he called for temporary ceasefires in February 2024,^[5] and then an end to the war by May 2024.^[6]

Public

As of November 30, 2023, 65% of Americans supported a ceasefire according to a YouGov poll.^[7] "Ceasefire now" has become a slogan during American pro-Palestine protests.^[8][9]

Local governments

As of March 2024, over 100 American localities have passed resolutions calling for a ceasefire in the war,^[10] many of which are modeled on the Ceasefire Now resolution.^[11]