1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

From IMEU: Senator Sanders announced he will introduce a Joint Resolution of Disapproval (JRD) to halt the weapons sales of Israel. Weapons sales paid for through Foreign Military Financing are a violation of US law and the Biden administration's own policies. That includes the Arms Export Control Act, the law under which Congress can introduce a JRD, which limits the use of US weapons "solely for internal security, for legitimate self-defense," and other scenarios not applicable to Israel's attacks on Palestinians. No sales or deliveries of any weapons are permitted to a country in "substantial violation" of these limitations. Israel's deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war, alongside its denial of water, electricity, and medical supplies, constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law. President Biden’s administration continues to supply and fund Israel while knowing since October 2023 that Israel has been targeting civilians. This is continued participation in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, erasure of Palestine, and a violation of Leahy Law, which prohibits our government from funding foreign forces who are implicated in gross human rights violations. What will presidential candidate Kamala Harris do differently? International scholar and lawyer, Francesca Albanese, has documented how Israel’s gross human rights violations and war crimes are genocidal acts, including their targeting of hospitals and healthcare workers, targeting journalists and civilians, using starvation as a weapon, etc. Israeli government officials have repeatedly expressed genocidal intent. Sites of learning, culture, and historical memory — universities, mosques, churches, museums — have been decimated. The Gaza Strip's ability to produce food and clean water has been severely destroyed by Israeli airstrikes and bulldozers which have razed farms and orchards. People have unearthed mass graves with evidence of torture. As people of conscience, we will not ignore this. I am demanding you to take immediate steps to stop Israel’s genocide of Palestinians by calling for 1) a total and permanent bilateral ceasefire, 2) humanitarian aid allowed to enter Gaza, 3) an end to Israel's siege on Gaza, 4) the release of all Palestinian and Israeli hostages, 5) no more weapons or funding to the Israeli military, 6) the reinstatement of UNRWA funding. A permanent ceasefire is an absolutely critical step to ensuring everlasting liberation and peace. The ICJ ruled that Israel should do everything in its power to prevent genocide. Never again means never again for anyone. Palestinians deserve to live with freedom and safety which means first stopping this genocide and then ensuring liberation from occupation and apartheid. The liberation and safety of Palestinians, Israelis, Jewish people, and Muslim people are intertwined. There can only be true safety when we are all free from oppression.