Democratic Congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois has been closely following the developments of the recent tragic incident in which the IDF, mistakenly identifying members of Hamas, killed three Israeli hostages. Acknowledging the tragedy, the Congressman underscored Hamas's responsibility for the hostage situation and emphasized the necessity for greater oversight and safety measures to avert such tragedies in the future.
Regarding the ongoing conflict, Quigley shared his agreement with the views of National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan. He conveyed the urgency of an effective humanitarian aid strategy and the importance of protecting civilian lives. While affirming Israel's right to fight against Hamas, he stressed the importance of envisioning the long-term consequences, saying, 'the manner in which they do this will impact a great deal the challenges they face in the coming years.'
Twitter Post On IDF Mistakenly Kills Three Israeli Hostages, Confirms Congressman Quigley
Switching gears, the conversation veered toward Ukraine. Given the concerns expressed by both U.S. and European officials over the risk of Ukraine falling to Russian forces without considerable aid, Quigley gave his insights. Refuting the idea of defining a victory that involves sacrificing some of Ukraine’s territory, he expressed the necessity of safeguarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity as part of the definition of victory. Highlighting the atrocities he had witnessed in Ukraine, he suggested that 'rebuilding Ukraine' and holding the perpetrators accountable would contribute towards the country's ultimate victory.
In response to reports of the White House advising Ukrainian leaders to signal readiness for peace talks to the Kremlin, Quigley voiced his strong disagreement. He upheld Ukraine's right to resist its ambitions. He expressed concern over the potential global implications of such a move, fearing that it could be interpreted as a green light for autocratic regimes worldwide. In his view, capitulating to such pressures would not only undermine Ukrainian integrity but also pose a significant threat to global democracy, setting a dangerous precedent. Reminded of his commitment to support Ukraine, Quigley asserted that the preservation and success of democracy are in the best interest of the United States and its allies.
