- United States
- Colo.
- Letter
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the ongoing assault on Gaza and to urge you to support an immediate ceasefire and cessation of military aid to Israel. Recent findings published in The Lancet, in the report "Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential" by Rasha Khatib, Martin McKee, and Salim Yusuf (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01169-3 (https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01169-3)), underscore the catastrophic human toll and the urgent need for action.
According to the report, as of June 19, 2024, 37,396 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the October 2023 escalation of violence.
These figures, reported by the Gaza Health Ministry and validated by Israeli intelligence services, the UN, and WHO, highlight the severe impact of the war on civilians. Moreover, the destruction of infrastructure has made data collection exceedingly difficult, with a significant portion of deaths remaining unidentified. Independent analyses by organizations such as Airwars further indicate that the true death toll may be even higher, suggesting that the reported figures are likely underestimates.
The assault has also resulted in severe indirect health consequences, including the destruction of healthcare infrastructure, severe shortages of essential supplies, and a lack of safe refuge for the population. Estimates suggest that indirect deaths could be up to 186,000, accounting for approximately 7.9% of Gaza’s population. The situation is further exacerbated by the destruction of 35% of buildings and the significant loss of funding to humanitarian organizations like UNRWA.
Given these dire circumstances, an immediate and urgent ceasefire is essential to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of the civilian population. Additionally, it is crucial to ensure the distribution of medical supplies, food, clean water, and other resources necessary for basic human survival. The international community must also focus on documenting the scale of suffering and ensuring historical accountability, as mandated by the International Court of Justice in January 2024.
I urge you to advocate for an immediate ceasefire and to halt all military aid to Israel. It is imperative that we prioritize humanitarian efforts and work towards a peaceful resolution to this conflict. The lives and well-being of countless individuals depend on swift and decisive action, as does your reputation and legacy.
