AJP Action Commemorates Palestinian’s Will To Live, Despite One Year of Genocide and Hell [WASHINGTON D.C., October 5, 2024] – As the bloodshed in Gaza continues, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action) solemnly takes this moment to commemorate the lives lost in what is now being recognized as one of the gravest humanitarian disasters of the 21st century. Over the past year, Israeli forces have executed a campaign of devastation, with estimates from The Lancet placing the death toll of Palestinians at approximately 186,000. In just the last few days, medical professionals on the ground in Gaza reported more than 118,000 Palestinians killed since October 7th, 2023—an unimaginable 5.6% of Gaza's pre-war population. Among the most heart-wrenching figures is the death of 16,500 children—a staggering loss that far exceeds the toll inflicted on children by any conflict in modern history, including 30x the children killed in the Russia-Ukraine war. We take this moment to remember them. But more than those killed by Israel, those who remain alive struggle every day to survive. According to estimates, 1.9 million Palestinians out of a population of 2.3 million, are displaced in Gaza, forced to migrate to a sand-ghetto in the south of the Strip or risk execution by airstrike. And even for those lucky to be alive, the IPC estimates that 96% of Gazans face high levels of acute food insecurity, of those, over 495,000 people (22% of the population) are facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity, experiencing an extreme lack of food, starvation, and exhaustion of coping capacities. To add further injury, 86% of Palestinians in Gaza remain under Israeli-issued evacuation orders being forced to travel kilometers, mostly on foot, while facing famine. Simply put, while Israel has killed tens, if not hundreds of thousands, it continues to make the lives of those who survive hell on earth.  While we commemorate the last year of genocide in Gaza, we do not forget that Israel’s decades-long settler-colonial project—built on the denial of Palestinian existence and a foundation of ethnic cleansing—continues with impunity. These atrocities are not isolated but are part of a broader historical pattern of displacement and massacre, rooted in the very creation of the Israeli state in 1948. Palestinians have faced systematic dehumanization, denied their right to return to their ancestral homes, and have been subjected to continuous military occupation, apartheid policies, and unrelenting violence ever since. The deliberate targeting of civilians is a flagrant violation of international law. The destruction of hospitals, schools, and homes constitutes war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. Yet, Israel acts without fear of accountability, emboldened by unconditional U.S. military support and diplomatic cover. The Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel, including the continuous flow of billions in military aid, directly implicates the United States in this genocide. We cannot let these atrocities continue. We reiterate our demand for Congress and the President to halt military aid to Israel and impose sanctions until Israel complies with international human rights standards and ends its illegal occupation of Palestinian land. AJP Action remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the people of Palestine in the halls of Congress and in communities across the United States. We stand in solidarity with all those affected by Israel’s genocidal assault and reaffirm our dedication to fighting for justice, dignity, and freedom for the Palestinian people. In solidarity, Americans for Justice in Palestine Action |
