From CNN, March 20: “Israeli forces detained Palestinian journalists and health workers, blindfolded them and stripped them down to their underwear in Al-Shifa Hospital, in northern Gaza, according to eyewitness accounts shared with CNN. Palestinian reporters and hospital staff described scenes of humiliating interrogations where colleagues had been undressed and left outside in the cold, after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) laid siege to the largest hospital in the enclave in the early hours of Monday.”
Israel has killed over 31,000 Palestinians and wounded over 73,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023. U.S. made weapons are killing entire families in Gaza. Our tax dollars are directly funding this genocide. Israel continues to use starvation as a weapon and now there are reports of children dying from malnutrition. The siege has created widespread illness and disease, including more than 300,000 acute respiratory infections and more than 200,000 cases of acute diarrhea. Israel has destroyed Palestine’s infrastructure in Gaza - only 12 hospitals are partially functioning now and all wastewater systems are nonfunctional. Israel has prevented Palestinians’ access to aid and actively killed civilians.
President Biden continues to supply and fund Israel. This is continued participation in this genocide and a violation of Leahy law, which prohibits our government from funding foreign forces who are implicated in gross human rights violations. Global human rights organizations have repeatedly reported on Israel’s gross human rights violations and war crimes, including targeting hospitals and healthcare workers, targeting journalists and civilians, using starvation as a weapon, etc. As people of conscience, we will not ignore this.
I support a ceasefire, along with 78 Congressmembers (as of March 15). The majority of Americans - including 77% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans - support a permanent ceasefire (Data for Progress, February 2024 report). We are paying attention to representatives who publicly call for a permanent ceasefire, which will shape the 2024 elections. I want you to cosponsor HR 786 by Rep Bush.
I am demanding you to take immediate steps to deescalate violence in Gaza and Israel by calling for 1) a total and permanent 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 UNRWA funding. A permanent ceasefire is an absolutely critical step to ensuring everlasting liberation and peace.
First sent on March 21 by Alice
