John,
We remain heartbroken by the horrific events that have unfolded in Israel and Palestine since last weekend.
Thousands of Israeli and Palestinian civilians have been killed, including children and the elderly, with thousands more injured. Hamas has targeted and killed Israeli civilians, taking over 150 hostages and refusing to release them. The Israeli government has cut 2 million Palestinian civilians off from food, water, fuel, and electricity in preparation for a full-scale ground invasion.
The scale of humanitarian catastrophe now facing Palestinians in Gaza is growing by the hour — and further escalation would endanger the lives of millions of Israeli and Palestinian families alike. President Biden and Congress must act now to demand a ceasefire to save lives.
The Working Families Party is proud to join Rep. Cori Bush, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Delia Ramirez, and more in support of a Congressional resolution calling for immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine and to send humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza. Will you take a minute to urge your member of Congress to call for ceasefire and de-escalation in order to save as many lives as possible?
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We believe that most people from all backgrounds across the world are appalled by Hamas's deliberate murder and abduction of Israeli civilians. We believe that they are also appalled by the Israeli government's disregard for Palestinian civilian life in its military response and siege. And we believe that they recognize that the Palestinian people are not Hamas, and that the Israeli people are not the Israeli government.
Israel receives billions every year in U.S. military aid, and is likely to receive billions more to support its war on Hamas. The United States therefore bears responsibility for the conduct of Israel's war.
The Israeli military has cut off access to food, water, and electricity for civilians, in violation of international law. They’ve ordered millions to evacuate northern Gaza, an order that the United Nations immediately said would be “impossible” to accomplish “without devastating humanitarian consequences.”1 The Israeli President last week declared that “an entire nation” was responsible for Hamas’s attacks, words that seemingly aim to justify collective punishment in retribution.2
Meanwhile some elected leaders in the U.S. — including Republican members of Congress — have backed calls to “level” Gaza and “turn it into a parking lot.”3
We need to do all we can to stand up against this kind of rhetoric, and to stop further escalation from costing the lives of more children and families.
Use this tool to urge your member of Congress to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine and to send humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza in order to save as many lives as possible.
In solidarity,
Working Families Party
P.S. You can read the full resolution and list of current co-sponsors here.
Sources:
1. Israel warns northern Gaza residents to leave, tells U.N. 1.1 million residents should evacuate within 24 hours, CBS News, October 13, 2023
2. 'Everybody is scared': As Gaza faces threat of ground invasion, tensions run high in Israel, NBC News, October 13, 2023
3. As Israel ramps up war with Hamas, backers cheer destruction of Gaza, Washington Post, October 13, 2023
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