1. United States
2. Letter

As an ordinary man who believes in the sanctity of human life, I pen these words ridden with despair regarding the recurring narrative of conflict in the Middle East. Innocent lives are being trapped, terrified, and traumatized in the cycle of violence that seems to have no end. Their cries go unheard or perhaps, ignored, by those who claim to foster global peace. Yet actions speak louder than words. The U.S. funding of Israel's actions against Palestinian civilians and the provision of arms to perpetuate hostilities runs contrary to these values of peace and humanity. Sorry, but I cannot remain silent on this. It is unbearable and unacceptable to see thousands of lives ruined in the blink of an eye. Just imagine that every bomb that falls erases not just a house, but a home; not just individuals, but families. Regarding them as mere statistics is an affront to their memory and diminishes our shared human dignity. Innocent children being exposed to such a magnitude of pain and loss at an early age is heartbreaking and hard to explain. This must stop, and stop now, before there is even more devastation to answer for. We need a ceasefire. We need to stop the funding channelled directly or indirectly to cause this destruction. Further, the laws we establish and stick up for should protect all human beings, not entitle some to exert dominance over others. The U.S., as a beacon of liberty, peace, and democracy, must rise to the occasion, stand firm against these acts of violence, and aim for diplomatic resolutions. Altogether, for the sake of humanity, let us demand the abolishing of all forms of crimes against humanity, for that is a shared responsibility and a mark of our humaneness.