Friend,

The Palestinian people deserve to live, and to live with dignity and rights. A ceasefire was necessary, but will not alone achieve freedom, justice, and equality for all who live under Israel's apartheid government.

That’s why I’m going to keep pushing to ensure that the U.S. conditions funding to Israel to uphold human rights, and why we must end the funding entirely if those conditions are not met. Our struggle is not over, and the freedom of Palestinians is connected to the fight against oppression all over the world.

Please donate generously to two important nonprofits continuing the fight for Palestinian human rights and securing humanitarian aid for Gazans: the Institute for Middle East Understanding and Baitulmaal.

More than 70,000 Palestinians have been displaced by Israel’s 11 days of bombing.¹ Many of these families during past Israeli military attacks had already experienced fleeing their homes in the dead of night and rushing to UN-run schools while fearing for their lives.

As the world’s largest open-air prison, Gaza has undergone 14 years of Israel’s air, sea, and military blockade. The area’s already-fragile infrastructure has been shattered by the latest attacks, and basic necessities are scarce. Beyond survival, rebuilding will be extremely difficult, since Israel’s government blocks most materials from going into Gaza. And with the coronavirus pandemic still raging, Gaza’s only COVID testing site was destroyed by the Israeli military’s bombs—many of which were supplied and paid for by the U.S., by our taxpayer dollars.

So we’re grateful for groups on the ground, including Baitulmaal, which is distributing emergency food and water supplies in Gaza right now.

The U.S.-based international humanitarian relief agency’s first round of aid included refills of Gaza water tanks and 224,000 meals to Gaza residents, as well as those living in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, where families are still in the midst of forced displacement. Baitulmaal operates 300 water tanks in Gaza and funds a healthcare clinic for families in the occupied West Bank.

We also want to support another incredible nonprofit organization, the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU), which is making sure that we keep hearing directly from Palestinians on the ground about their experiences and needs. I’ve relied on the IMEU’s online sharing of videos, photos, and stories —and U.S. and European journalists rely on them, too.

The IMEU expands public awareness about Palestine and Palestinians, reaching millions of Americans by providing journalists with quick access to high-quality information, perspectives, and resources—including videos, fact sheets, expert analysis, infographics, connections with Palestinians to share their stories, and more.

They’re amplifying Palestinian voices and growing support for Palestinian rights, and it’s working: Polls from the last few years show that Americans’ opinions on Palestine are shifting. As more U.S. residents become aware of how our government funds and is complicit in the Israeli government’s human rights abuses, more of us are demanding an end to the occupation and apartheid policies.

Please donate now to support these organizations as they continue essential work toward Palestinian human rights, freedom, and aid.

Our taxpayer dollars may fund Israel’s military, but we can choose to invest what we can in Palestinians’ lives and safety.

Thank you for taking action in solidarity with Palestinians. May we all be free.

- Rashida