|
Dear John,
Breaking news: Israel and Hamas have reportedly reached a long-overdue ceasefire to halt the violence in Gaza. This step brings hope to the countless innocent civilians suffering horrifically on the ground, and should secure freedom for hostages held by Hamas. We hope that it can last.
While this news is very welcome for all those in favor of peace, it also comes very, very late. The toll of the war has been catastrophic. After approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed in the October 7 attacks, credible estimates put the civilian death toll in Gaza at 64,260, 70% of whom are women and children. Other estimates put the death toll much higher, and numerous human rights organizations have warned that Israel was perpetrating a genocide.
Since the conflict began, NIAC has been steadfast in advocating for a ceasefire. This was not just the right thing to do, it also makes sense for a pro-peace organization that opposes war between the U.S. and Iran. Over the past year, Iran and Israel moved to the brink of war several times, including trading missile strikes on each other’s territory.
We have joined with allies in demanding a ceasefire, including by organizing grassroots campaigns, mobilizing for a Ceasefire Week of Action in Washington, D.C., collecting testimonies, and joining coalition campaigns demanding this horrific war end. This would not have been possible without collective pressure for peace, which been instrumental in pushing policymakers toward this diplomatic breakthrough, including members of the Trump transition team.
But this is just the beginning. We must ensure this ceasefire holds and that humanitarian assistance surges to the imperiled population of Gaza, while the U.S. leads with diplomacy to prevent further regional escalation.
However, it is far from clear whether Trump will follow up this breakthrough by pursuing negotiations with Iran that can truly stabilize the precarious regional situation. In his confirmation hearing today, Senator Marco Rubio - a long-time Iran hawk and Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State - did not discount the possibility of negotiations with Iran but appeared to set the bar impossibly high for their success. This is cause for concern. If Trump fails to engage with Iran, and instead listens to hawks, he could soon be boxed into a crisis that leads the U.S., Israel and Iran to war.
Your support and commitment to peace helped make this critical ceasefire breakthrough possible, but we must keep pushing. With your help, NIAC will continue to push for peace and diplomacy despite the many spoilers who are eager to bring war to Iran.
Let’s turn this moment into lasting peace.
Make a Donation
In solidarity,
Ryan Costello
Policy Director, NIAC
|
