1. United States
2. R.I.
3. Letter

As of today, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has run out of food and the bakeries in Gaza have run out of flour. Israel has blocked humanitarian aid and food from entering Gaza for two months. The Palestinian civilians under siege are being subjected to starvation, a war crime as outlined under the Statute of the International Criminal Court. The statute also states that "wilfully impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions” in an effort to “intentionally deprive them (civilians) of objects indispensable to their survival” is an extension of this provision. In regards to a siege, even Israel's own Manual on the Laws of War states that this internationally recognized law “clearly implies that the city’s inhabitants must be allowed to leave the city during a siege." All border crossings are closed and civilians have been directly targeted for the last 18 months - even when they try to leave, especially since Israel broke the ceasefire in March. According to their own mandate, Israel is breaking their own laws as well as international law and committing a war crime. Israel has begun to escalate its aggression on the people of Palestine. We have an obligation to stand with them. We demand that you advocate for the Palestinian people. Israel must open the crossings and allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Palestine. We demand a cessation of hostilities and an end to the genocide, forced expulsion, and extermination of the Palestinian people. Stand with us. You have been elected to be our voice on a national as well as international stage and we are screaming with the Palestinian people. We are screaming for you to listen to us. We will not look away. We will not be silent.