Dear John,

You have probably seen the news from Jerusalem and Gaza.

Violence over the last few weeks has included attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque, Palestinian families being threatened with forced displacement, and ongoing violations of Palestinian rights. On Monday, rockets were fired towards Israel from Gaza, and Israel quickly retaliated with multiple lethal bombings. Tuesday brought more airstrikes. All of this is happening within a context of massive humanitarian need. 

Last summer, AFSC staff and volunteers delivered COVID-19 information and protective supplies to poor and housebound elderly Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The violence of the past week comes as we once again prepare to reach as many elders as we can, as COVID-19 continues to spread, and as Palestinians are still denied life-saving vaccines. 

Make a gift today to help us get critical COVID-19 information and supplies to housebound elders in Palestine. 

Poor and elderly Palestinians living under occupation in Gaza and the West Bank face extraordinary barriers to accessing healthcare and essential supplies. AFSC is advocating for an end to the 14-year Israeli blockade that prevents so many people from meeting basic needs – and for the rights of communities in Palestine to receive medical care without discrimination.  In the U.S., we are urging Congress to end all military aid to Israel, demand accountability for ongoing violations of Palestinian rights, and advocate for Palestinians to have access to vaccines.

 
We are also preparing to deliver hygiene kits. 

Help provide access to critical supplies to slow the spread of COVID-19 for elderly and impoverished Palestinians. A donation of $150 helps AFSC deliver a hygiene kit to someone in need, but a gift of any size makes a difference. 

Your gift will help us deliver essential virus protection items, such as liquid hand soap, soap bars, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, bleach, household cleaning materials, paper towels, laundry detergent, and face masks. These are items that seniors and their families otherwise could not afford. We will also include small items such as fans for relief from the heat, solar powered LED lights for when the electricity goes out, and radios for access to COVID-19 advisories. 

I hope you will make a special gift today to support our work and help us meet basic needs. 

Thank you for your commitment to communities in Palestine and around the world.