Friends,
It’s now been over six weeks since Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack on October 7, a shocking atrocity that cries out for justice.
J Street supports the Israeli government’s right to hold the perpetrators accountable, to seek the swift and safe return of hostages, and to defend its citizens in accordance with international law. We have urged all possible steps be taken to protect civilians in Gaza.
Intensive Israeli airstrikes have killed thousands of Palestinians – including over 4,000 children – and have destroyed the homes of hundreds of thousands, devastating civilian infrastructure and healthcare. The Netanyahu government's ongoing siege has prevented adequate food, water, medicine and electricity from reaching civilians, leading to a growing humanitarian catastrophe.
Hamas bears major responsibility for this crisis, brazenly putting its own people in harm’s way. The welfare of Gaza’s noncombatants must also – morally and legally – be an Israeli responsibility. J Street has called for multi-day humanitarian pauses; the restoration of power and water to civilian infrastructure; and full compliance with the letter and spirit of international law.
The humanitarian situation is not just a moral imperative, but a strategic one as well. The greater the destruction wreaked on innocents, the greater the risk of spiraling escalation in the West Bank and on Israel’s northern border; and the greater the long-term risk to the international standing of both Israel and the United States.
On Tuesday, November 21 at 1pm Eastern/10am Pacific, we’ll be holding an open briefing with Physicians for Human Rights – Israel and Gisha to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and what more the US and the international community can do to avert catastrophe.
REGISTER TO JOIN US
We'll be joined by Guy Shalev of Physicians for Human Rights–Israel, an organization founded to advocate for the right to healthcare for all people in Israel and the Occupied Territory. They provide humanitarian aid, mobile clinics and volunteer health services to those with limited or no access to health care – primarily migrants, refugees, and Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Gaza.
We'll also be joined by Tania Harry of Gisha, an Israeli organization that fights to protect the freedom of movement for Palestinians, especially in Gaza. The organization provides legal representation to individuals and organizations in Israeli administrative proceedings and courts, and lobbies before lawmakers for policies that promote human rights and international law.
We’re grateful to these organizations for their critical work, and for taking the time to share more with us about their work and their assessments of the situation on the ground. You can register to join us here.
We hope to see you Tuesday.
Debra Shushan
Director of Policy, J Street
