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John,
Israel’s military is escalating its genocidal attacks on 1.5 million Palestinian refugees trapped in Rafah, who’ve been living in makeshift tents, without food, clean water, sanitation, or medicine.
With U.S. bombs and tax dollars, Israel’s apartheid regime has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza in the past 7 months—including over 14,000 children.
Human rights groups have documented the Israeli government’s violations of international law since October, including intentionally starving Palestinian civilians, destroying 80% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, targeting and killing over 100 journalists, dropping white phosphorus in Gaza and Lebanon, and killing aid workers and healthcare workers in Gaza and Lebanon.
Despite these horrific atrocities and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s warnings that he would invade Rafah, most of my colleagues in Congress just voted to send the Israeli military over $14 billion—with absolutely no conditions on upholding human rights. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has continued to shield Israel's government from accountability.
Please add your name to tell President Biden and Congress today: End all U.S. military funding for the Israeli apartheid regime. Demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire that includes a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as well as the release of all hostages and those arbitrarily detained.
This weekend, May 11 will mark two years since Israeli forces assassinated Shireen Abu Akleh, a beloved and iconic Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist. The Israeli apartheid regime has long attacked Palestinian journalists, including bombing Al Jazeera’s office in Gaza in 2021 and shutting down the outlet’s Israel offices this week.
Despite these attempts to silence Palestinians’ voices, people around the United States and around the world are outraged as they watch children crushed under rubble and torn apart by bombs.
The vast majority of Americans want an end to the U.S.-backed massacres and mass starvation in Gaza. They’re demanding governments, universities, and other institutions invest in life rather than genocide.
On college campuses, thousands of brave students and faculty of all backgrounds are still protesting for peace. Thousands of others are still demonstrating in their communities to demand a permanent ceasefire. At a recent Passover Seder with Jewish allies, I met an American Holocaust survivor who said: “I want America to stop funding this slaughter.”
It’s time our elected leaders heed the calls of their constituents.
Please sign on today to demand Congress and President Biden end U.S. funding for Israel’s military and push for an immediate, permanent ceasefire that includes a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as well as the release of all hostages and those arbitrarily detained.
Thank you for pushing elected leaders to see our shared humanity and act now to save lives.
In solidarity,
Rashida
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rashida Tlaib
Date: Wed, May 8, 2024
Subject: Sign now to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire
To: [email protected]
John,
In an escalation of the U.S.-backed genocide of Palestinians, Israeli forces are beginning a ground invasion of Rafah in Gaza. They’ve seized control and closed the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, an essential entry point for aid. They’re bombing the city where 1.5 million Palestinian civilians—including over 600,000 children—are trapped.
For months, Netanyahu told the world he was going to continue the genocide of Palestinians with an invasion of Rafah, even if a ceasefire is reached. President Biden sent more weapons even with Netanyahu’s intentions made clear. A majority of members of Congress and President Biden just sent Israel’s military over $14 billion—with absolutely no conditions on upholding human rights.
Today is a deadline for President Biden’s administration to deliver a report to Congress about whether Israel’s use of U.S. weapons is in violation of international or U.S. law.
While human rights groups and media outlets like the Guardian and the Washington Post have clearly documented the Israeli government’s human rights violations, the Biden administration has continued to shield Israel’s government from accountability.
Please sign onto this petition to Congress and President Biden today: End all U.S. military funding for the Israeli apartheid regime and push for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, which includes a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as well as the release of all hostages and those arbitrarily detained.
Displaced multiple times by thousands of U.S. bombs in the past 7 months, Rafah’s refugees have been continually pushed southward to so-called “safe zones.” Now they’re in the southernmost part of Gaza and there is nowhere safe to go.
Nearly 80% of civilian infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed. There are no universities left in Gaza. Multiple mass graves have been uncovered at several hospitals that Israeli forces have recently withdrawn from, including hundreds of bodies found with their hands tied behind their backs.
But instead of outrage in Congress about that, many of my colleagues are pushing to undermine our constitutional right to protest this genocide. Too many lawmakers would rather condemn anti-genocide protesters than condemn—or try to stop—these horrific war crimes.
As Biden Administration Staffers for Ceasefire and Congressional Staff for a Ceasefire Now said in a statement this week:
“Now is the time for Members of Congress and President Biden to lead with the moral clarity that saves lives… We are calling on President Biden and our bosses in Congress to listen to their constituents as we have: Demand an immediate end to Israel’s assault on the civilians of Gaza before it is too late.”
Please join the call to demand Congress and President Biden end all U.S. military funding for Israel’s apartheid regime and push for an immediate, permanent ceasefire.
Thank you. We must continue to demand our leaders listen to the majority of their constituents who oppose these atrocities.
In solidarity,
Rashida
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