WASHINGTON

A group of US Congressional staffers gathered Wednesday in front of the Capitol to mourn Israelis and Palestinians who were killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to demand a cease-fire.

“We were horrified by the brutal October 7th attacks on Israeli civilians, and we are horrified by the overwhelming response by the Israeli government that has killed thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” the group who call themselves Congressional Staff For A Ceasefire. wrote in a statement.

“Our constituents are pleading for a ceasefire, and we are the staffers answering their calls," it said.

Accusing their bosses on Capitol Hill of not listening to the people they represent, they said: "We demand our leaders speak up; call for a ceasefire, a release of all hostages, and an immediate de-escalation now.”

The demonstrators laid flowers in front of the Capitol building and held a moment of silence for the victims of the conflict.

Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestine resistance group, Hamas, on Oct. 7.​​​​​​​

At least 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, have been killed.

The Israeli death toll nears 1,600, according to official figures.