ISRAEL'S WEAPONIZED SEXUAL VIOLENCE MUST BE STOPPED - CEASEFIRE NOW

The testimony of Jamila Al-Hisi who survived the continued siege of the Al-Shifa Hospital which she shared 3/23 to the news will haunt me until the day that I die. She described Israeli forces raping, torturing, and executing women, children, and men. Everyone has had no food or water for the entire duration of the brutal onslaught, which at the time of her interview was 6 days. She was among one of the few allowed to leave - on her perilous and horrifying journey out of the area, she was forced to witness Israel forces burning people alive in the ancillary buildings and residential homes nearby. No one is safe from the brutality. One of the brave medical staff, Dr. Mohammed Zaher al-Nono, was executed by Israeli forces in front of his patients for refusing to leave their bedsides. A pregnant woman was forced to strip, and when she pleaded with Israeli forces for mercy because of her pregnancy, they beat her viciously, focusing on her stomach, then took turns raping her in front of everyone, including her husband and family. They told her husband if he looked away they would murder her. The use of sexual violence by Israeli forces against women, children, and men, has been well documented and pre-dates the acceleration of their genocide on 10/7. Recently reported today, 3/24, Canadian doctors in Gaza sent to try and help people have stated that from the Al-Khayr Hospital a paramedic arrived with a woman unable to speak to their care. She had been raped repeatedly for 2 days. Another woman arrived from Nasser Hospital with a similar story - with the addition that her husband and brother were executed after they took off their clothes to try and cover her and provide her comfort. I demand that you:  - Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire - Call for the immediate end of Israel's occupation and apartheid and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace - Hold Israel accountable for their violations of the Genocide Convention and all other international laws by any means necessary - Secure the immediate release and safety of all Palestinians who have been abducted and held captive by Israel, including those whose indefinite detention began prior to 10/7 - Permanently end all monetary, diplomatic, and military aid given to Israel and enforce Leahy Law - Reallocate all funds given to Israel and commit additional resources for ongoing humanitarian relief for Palestinians starting with immediately resuming funding of UNRWA - Immediately withdraw all U.S. troops, military assets, and all other assets deployed throughout the Middle East and cease all actions that further escalate a larger regional conflict - Pass legislation that voids all anti-BDS laws at the federal level – Vote no on H.R. 7521