John,

Numerous media outlets including the Washington Post, and humanitarian groups such as Amnesty International, are reporting on the Israeli military’s illegal use of white phosphorus on civilian populations.^1,2

This is a war crime and President Biden must condemn these actions immediately.

White phosphorus, when used against people, burns skin down to the bone and reignites internally, destroying organs. This incendiary weapon is literally melting children’s faces in Gaza. In recent weeks, Israel’s government has also illegally dropped white phosphorus bombs on civilians in Lebanon.

Join me and our allies in calling on President Biden to demand Israel ban the use of white phosphorus in military operations, and push for an immediate ceasefire.

Each year, the United States provides billions of dollars of aid to the Israeli military, without any restrictions on how the money is used.

On top of this, the U.S. House recently authorized an additional $14 billion U.S. taxpayer dollars to Israel’s military without conditions. We cannot let our tax dollars fund this horrific genocide of Palestinians, which has already killed more than 11,000 people―the majority of whom are children.

A new poll from Reuters shows that nearly 70% of Americans across the political spectrum want an immediate ceasefire.³ Only a handful of members of Congress are listening to their constituents and demanding a ceasefire, but pressure is building to end the violence.

This past week alone:

• Dozens of rabbis joined me in DC to support our Ceasefire Now Resolution.

• Thousands of Jewish peace advocates risked arrest in civil disobedience actions for a ceasefire in Chicago, Oakland, Boston, LA, and DC.

• More than 500 officials in Biden’s administration sent the President a letter demanding a ceasefire.

• Palestinians and human rights organizations sued President Biden for unconditionally supporting the Israeli government’s genocidal actions.

• And, just yesterday, Americans across the country rallied, marched, and held sit-ins in a National Day of Action for Palestine.

We see the human rights violations the U.S. government is enabling, and we are saying: No more!

Join me and allies in calling on President Biden to immediately demand Israel ban white phosphorus and push for a ceasefire now!

Together, we will keep building a world with freedom, safety, dignity, and equality for everyone.

In solidarity,

Rashida

¹ Israel appears to use white phosphorus in Gaza, video shows
² Lebanon: Evidence of Israel’s unlawful use of white phosphorus in southern Lebanon as cross-border hostilities escalate
³ US public support for Israel drops; majority backs a ceasefire, Reuters/Ipsos shows