Channel 12 - an Israeli news outlet - has released video footage of Israeli reserve soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian man being held in the Sde Teiman torture facility. Major media outlets have yet to report on the video hours after it was released. In late July, nine Israeli soldiers were arrested for the rape, sparking riots and protests by Israelis against the arrests and investigation. Per reporting from Channel 12, the suspects in the case were found to be lying on a polygraph test. The UN reports that Israeli forces are committing widespread torture of those they're holding captive, including rape.
President Biden’s administration continues to supply and fund Israel while knowing since October 2023 that Israel has been targeting civilians. On July 11, he approved more 500 pound bombs to supply Israel. This is continued participation in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, erasure of Palestine, and a violation of Leahy Law, which prohibits our government from funding foreign forces who are implicated in gross human rights violations. What will presidential candidate Kamala Harris do?
International scholar and lawyer, Francesca Albanese, has documented how Israel’s gross human rights violations and war crimes are genocidal acts, including their targeting of hospitals and healthcare workers, targeting journalists and civilians, using starvation as a weapon, etc. Israeli government officials have repeatedly expressed genocidal intent. Sites of learning, culture, and historical memory — universities, mosques, churches, museums — have been decimated. The Gaza Strip's ability to produce food and clean water has been severely destroyed by Israeli airstrikes and bulldozers which have razed farms and orchards. People have unearthed mass graves with evidence of torture. Israel is ignoring the I.C.J. ruling on May 24 to halt the offensive on Rafah. The U.S. continues to ignore the U.N. resolution on March 25 for a ceasefire. As people of conscience, we will not ignore this.
I am demanding you to take immediate steps to stop Israel’s genocide of Palestinians by calling for 1) a total and permanent bilateral ceasefire, 2) humanitarian aid allowed to enter Gaza, 3) an end to Israel's siege on Gaza, 4) the release of all Palestinian and Israeli hostages, 5) no more weapons or funding to the Israeli military, 6) the reinstatement of U.N.R.W.A funding. A permanent ceasefire is an absolutely critical step to ensuring everlasting liberation and peace.
The I.C.J. ruled that Israel should do everything in its power to prevent genocide. Never again means never again for anyone. Palestinians deserve to live with freedom and safety which means first stopping this genocide and then ensuring liberation from occupation and apartheid. The liberation and safety of Palestinians, Israelis, Jewish people, and Muslim people are intertwined. There can only be true safety when we are all free from oppression.
First sent on August 9 by Alice
