What used to be the largest, most advanced hospital in terms of the range of care provided, Al-Shifa Medical Complex, has been turned into burned ruins. After the first siege and attack on Al-Shifa early on in this genocidal war, brave medical staff returned to try and resume providing care to those in northern Gaza. We don't know the fate of the 107 critical patients or the 60 medical staff taken hostage in a smaller building nearby. Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta, colleague of Dr Ahmad Maqadmeh, reported today 4/1, that Dr Maqadmeh had been murdered during the recent military occupation of Al-Shifa. Dr Maqadmeh leaves behind a wife and baby. He chose to stay behind at Al-Shifa to keep trying to save lives. Since when was saving lives become a death sentence?
Israel's repeated, barbaric targeting of hospitals has led to the local Ministry of Health advising refugees trying to shelter there to leave, and "limit them to the sick and wounded so that health personnel can provide life-saving services and treatment.” Hospitals are supposed to be safe spaces. It's been made so clear that not only are medical facilities in Gaza not safe, they are seen by Israel as targets to destroy, that its safer for refugees to leave than stay. Al-Shifa is now a mass graveyard, occupied by Israeli forces, and the only who remain are the approximately 500 that have been taken hostage.
I demand that you:
- Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire
- Call for the immediate end of Israel's occupation and apartheid and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace
- Hold Israel accountable for their violations of the Genocide Convention and all other international laws by any means necessary
- Secure the immediate release and safety of all Palestinians who have been abducted and held captive by Israel, including those whose indefinite detention began prior to 10/7
- Permanently end all monetary, diplomatic, and military aid given to Israel and enforce Leahy Law
- Reallocate all funds given to Israel and commit additional resources for ongoing humanitarian relief for Palestinians starting with immediately resuming funding of UNRWA
- Immediately withdraw all U.S. troops, military assets, and all other assets deployed throughout the Middle East and cease all actions that further escalate a larger regional conflict
- Pass legislation that voids all anti-BDS laws at the federal level
– Vote no on H.R. 7521 and any similar legislation proposed
First sent on April 1 by Sarah
