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THE ACTIVE-DUTY AIRMAN REFUSING TO EAT WHILE GAZA STARVES  
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Gerry Condon
April 3, 2024
Common Dreams
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_ Airman Larry Hebert, who began a hunger strike at the White House
on Easter Sunday, says he was inspired by the self-immolation of
active-duty Airman Aaron Bushnell. _

Active-duty Senior Airman Larry Herbert stands outside of the White
House with a sign explaining his hunger strike. , (Photo: Veterans for
Peace)

 

An active-duty Air Force airman is on a hunger strike in front of the
White House, in solidarity with the children of Gaza
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starved to death.

Larry Hebert, a senior airman with six years in the Air Force, began
his hunger strike at the White House on Easter Sunday. He says he will
be present at the White House from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, April 1-6, and
will then move to the House of Representatives, beginning Monday,
April 8, when Congress is back in session.

Airman Hebert, who recently joined the organization Veterans For
Peace_,_ says he was inspired by the self-immolation of active-duty
Airman Aaron Bushnell.
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"When Aaron Bushnell took his own life at the Israeli Embassy for the
people of Gaza, that had a profound impact on me. I felt and resonated
exactly with how he was feeling, and so that was really powerful and
influential," Hebert said. "But what really infuriated me was the
response afterward. Leadership within the military and within our
government were just silent. There was utter silence surrounding Aaron
Bushnell and what he did."

"I knew I had to raise my voice in opposition to the U.S. government
supplying Israel the bombs and rockets to commit genocide in Gaza,"
said Hebert. "Active-duty members are afraid to speak out, and I hope
my example and that of others, like Aaron, can change that."

In mid-March, Hebert, from rural New Hampshire, took an authorized
leave from his assignment at Naval Station Rota, Spain. Since then he
has participated in demonstrations demanding a permanent cease-fire in
Gaza and visited several congressional offices to press for an end to
U.S. weapons shipments to Israel, which violate several U.S. laws.

Hebert is standing outside the White House this week with a sign that
reads "Active-duty airman refuses to eat while Gaza starves."

He is not wearing a military uniform, which might be considered a
violation of military regulations.

"I am on Day 4 of my hunger strike in solidarity with the civilians
that are being deliberately starved in Gaza," said Hebert on
Wednesday.

Hebert told _Task and Purpose_
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he currently works as an avionics technician assigned to Naval Station
Rota, Spain. The NAVSTA base
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cargo, fuel, and logistics support to military units in the region and
supports U.S. and NATO ships with three active piers.

Hebert plans to continue the hunger strike—limiting himself to water
and a juice supplement—for as long as he physically can.

He told_Military.com_
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"I don't have a stop or an end for it right now. I'm going to go until
my body cannot go any longer or we get the cease-fire and the end of
unconditional aid to Israel."

Hebert joins many hundreds of current and retired military and
civilian government officials urging U.S. leaders to stop fueling
Israel's war that has killed over 32,000 Palestinians, nearly half of
whom are children. Starvation and disease are rapidly becoming as
deadly as the war itself throughout Gaza, where Israel has bombed
hospitals, mosques, and residential neighborhoods to rubble.

"We applaud and wholeheartedly support the courageous action of this
young Airman," said Mike Ferner, national director of Veterans For
Peace [[link removed]]. "We hope he will inspire
other military personnel and veterans to take similar actions."

Veterans For Peace supports military personnel who act in good
conscience and refuse to participate in genocide, war crimes, and
crimes against humanity, whether directly or in support roles. For
example, orders to load or transport U.S. weapons to Israel are
illegal, under both U.S. and international law.

Veterans For Peace recommends that military personnel who want more
information about their legal rights, or who wish to be discharged
from the military, contact the GI Rights Hotline
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Airman Hebert's protest is gaining national and international notice.
On Tuesday alone, he was interviewed by _Democracy Now_,
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Times, T__he__Guardian, Voice of America, Al Jazeera, __WMUR-New
Hampshire_, and _The Katie Halpern Show_ on YouTube.

"Larry Hebert's bold action is having an impact," said Ferner of
Veterans For Peace. "We anticipate that other active-duty military and
veterans will be following his example."

List of U.S. Laws Violated by the Biden Administration When Sending
Arms to Israel

For active-duty members of the U.S. military considering following in
Herbert's footsteps, or anyone who seeks more information, here are
some of the laws the U.S. is currently breaking. In a February
12 letter to the U.S. State Department inspector-general,
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detailed the U.S. laws currently being violated by U.S. officials
every time weapons shipments to Israel are authorized to include:

* The Foreign Assistance Act
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forbids the provision of assistance to a government which "engages in
a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized
human rights."
* Arms Export Control Act
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countries that receive U.S. military aid can only use weapons for
legitimate self-defense and internal security. Israel's genocidal
campaign in Gaza goes way beyond self-defense and internal security.
* The U.S. War Crimes Act
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breaches of the Geneva Conventions, including willful killing,
torture, or inhumane treatment; willfully causing great suffering or
serious injury to body or health; and unlawful deportation or
transfer. All of these crimes are perpetrated daily by the Israeli
Occupying Forces.
* The Leahy Law
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prohibits the U.S. government from using funds for assistance to units
of foreign security forces when there is credible information
implicating that unit in the commission of gross violations of human
rights.
* The Genocide Convention Implementation Act
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to implement U.S. obligations under the Genocide Convention, provides
for criminal penalties for individuals who commit or incite others to
commit genocide.
* _Gerry Condon is a Vietnam-era veteran and former president of
Veterans For Peace._

* Israel-Gaza War
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* starvation
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* hunger strike
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* Palestine solidarity
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