The number of Democrats in the US House of Representatives calling for a ceasefire has increased, and they have launched an effort, the first of its kind since the beginning of the war, to prevent US arms sales to Israel.

The Times of Israel reported that 24 lawmakers signed a statement arranged by Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Betty McCollum and Mark Pocan, which calls for a ceasefire, expresses concern about “grave violations against children” in Gaza and warns that the war between Israel and Hamas risks “Drawing the United States into a dangerous and ill-advised conflict with armed groups across the region.”

The newspaper pointed out that on October 16, the number of representatives who signed a resolution calling for a ceasefire was only 13.

Coinciding with the ceasefire statement, Democrats launched the first effort to prevent American arms sales to Israel since the beginning of the Gaza war, according to what the Haaretz newspaper reported.

The newspaper explained that the effort is led by Representative Ilhan Omar, and calls for preventing the transfer of precision-guided bomb equipment worth $320 million to Israel, as its war with Hamas approaches its seventh week.

Along with Representatives Summer Lee, Delia Ramirez, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Omar introduced a joint resolution not to approve the transfer of precision-guided bomb equipment to Israel.

According to the representatives, “Congress has a responsibility to exercise oversight over arms sales. That is why we must not allow arms sales that will be used to directly violate American and international law, human rights, and our moral standing in the world.”

The war broke out between Israel and Hamas after a surprise attack launched by the movement on military sites and residential areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip on October 7, which led to the killing of 1,200 people, most of them civilians, including women and children, and 239 people were kidnapped, according to the Israeli authorities.

Since then, Israel has responded with intense air, sea and ground bombardment on the besieged Gaza Strip, followed by a ground operation that is still ongoing. The death toll in Gaza has reached more than 11,600 people, the majority of whom are women and children, in addition to the injury of about 29,000 people, in addition to more than 2,700. Missing under the rubble, according to what the Hamas Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday.