Friends -

I would like to take a moment to be very clear about what is happening in Palestine right now.

Since the war began earlier this month, Israel has dropped more bombs in Palestine than the U.S. dropped in Afghanistan in a whole year. Entire neighborhoods are being leveled and bodies are piling up at an alarming rate.

How is it that we as a nation are talking about releasing hostages and getting American citizens out of Israel, but cannot get the hundreds of Americans stuck in Gaza out? How long will we continue to say that humanitarian aid is on its way when it clearly is not?

Where is the humanity? Where is the outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza?

In the face of this war, I am deeply inspired by the mass movement of peace-loving people — led by Jewish and Muslim Americans — joining in nonviolent protest to demand a ceasefire and an end to this horror.

It is a reminder that our condemnation of the attacks on Israelis cannot blind us from what is happening to Palestinian civilians. I am continuing to pray for the entire region, and I pray that love will overcome hate.

Because the truth is that only solidarity and love will stop this war and stop more civilians from losing their lives. And I was encouraged this past week by more than 400 Capitol Hill staffers, led by Muslim and Jewish staff, who sent a letter calling for a ceasefire, safe return of hostages, and humanitarian aid.

In Minnesota, my good friends Jaylani Hussein, Beth Gendler, and Malika Tahir wrote a moving op-ed against violence, harassment and intimidation of our fellow Muslim and BIPOC Minnesotans.

We will outwork the hate.

We can honor the humanity of the innocent Israeli civilians who have been killed while also honoring the humanity of the innocent Palestinian civilians who have been killed.

We can denounce the horrific acts against children, women, the elderly, and the unarmed people who were slaughtered and taken hostage in Israel while also stopping the horrific acts being committed as we speak against Palestinians.

As someone who has experienced firsthand the trauma of war, displacement, and living in a refugee camp, my heart is broken for the thousands of people killed and many more displaced in the ongoing violence.

We must learn from the mistakes of our own war on terror — that military action alone rarely addresses the root causes. That peace and justice will not come from the barrel of a gun, and that targeting an entire civilian population will only create more discord and perpetuate the cycle of violence.

The solution to this horror, as ever, is a negotiated peace — with Israelis and Palestinians enjoying equal rights and security guarantees. I continue to urge the United States to use its diplomatic might to establish peace in the region.

The common humanity of Palestinians and Israelis deserves nothing less.

Thank you for reading.

In solidarity,

Ilhan Omar