Friends,
More than 400 days. Nearly 14 months. The Israel-Hamas war continues to be an unmitigated disaster for all involved.
Over 100 hostages remain in captivity, and Hamas continues to fight, even as Israel’s now-fired defense chief says that all possible military goals have been achieved.
And – as hard as it is to fathom – the humanitarian situation in Gaza goes from bad to worse.
Over a month ago, the Biden Administration outlined clear benchmarks for the Israeli government to improve the situation for civilians caught in the crossfire.
By Israel’s own metrics, those targets have still not been met. Netanyahu’s government still obstructs nearly all aid to north Gaza – and what does get in isn’t reaching desperate families due to the lack of appropriate security and oversight.
The reports are painful: Children treated for starvation. Hospitals running out of anesthetics. Rescue teams, lacking fuel for equipment, forced to dig through rubble by hand.
It's unacceptable. US law is clear: Recipients of American military aid cannot prohibit or impede humanitarian supplies or the White House must follow protocols to hold back parts of that assistance.
Yet consistently, when push comes to shove, the White House backs away from enforcing the law. Aid to the Israeli government continues to be a blank check.
President Biden still has 56 days left in office. We have to make the case that his legacy cannot be one of devastation in Gaza, failing to uphold our laws, and allowing Netanyahu to mock our shared values.
Friends: We don’t yet have your name on our congressional petition calling for action. Could you take a moment to read, sign and share our message to Congress?
As Jewish and pro-Israel Americans, we have a particularly powerful voice on this issue. We have to use it.
Israel faces real enemies and threats. We’ve seen that this year from Iran, Hezbollah and the Houthis – as well as Hamas and other terror groups. Israel’s right and obligation to defend its citizens is not in question.
But we’re also really clear about the values and laws that have to be upheld in fighting those enemies. The steps we’re advocating – enforcing restrictions on certain offensive weapons and exemptions for defensive systems – will not risk Israel’s defense or safety.
As countless former Israeli and American security officials have warned, laying siege to Gaza and delaying ceasefire negotiations further doesn’t bring a single hostage closer to freedom. It only makes things worse – in the end, undermining Israel's security too.
Together, let’s send a clear message to President Biden: Backtracking from humanitarian aid requirements is not only a breach of our laws, but it will cost lives in Gaza, further tarnish Israel’s reputation and corrode our shared values.
Friends: Please take a moment to sign our petition today? Add your name here >>
With less than two months left in office, this is really the Biden Administration’s final chance to demonstrate that its commitment to the rule of law actually means something.
Thank you, sincerely, for your support.
Jeremy Ben-Ami
President, J Street
