1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

The plight of innocent civilians continues to weigh heavily on the conscience of us all as we stand witness to an escalating and brutal conflict that daily steals lives, tears apart families, and decimates communities. The unequivocal suffering of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians provokes a humanitarian crisis that desperately calls for intervention, denounces any and all forms of violence, and unequivocally demands a ceasefire. Yet it is profoundly distressing to acknowledge that our own nation endorses and financially contributes to these atrocities. Our tax dollars work in favor of funding Israel's actions against Palestinian civilians, a burden of guilt shared by all of us. It is left to question how long the strings of our moral compass can be pulled before they break entirely. Humanity must not be a casualty of politics and power; we should vehemently raise our voices, challenge the status quo, and demand a stop to these crimes against humanity. The pertinent issue of our times is not merely demanding a ceasefire, but mandating an end to our involvement that exacerbates these circumstances. We must insist on a cease and desist order to the provision of arms from our nation that fuels this enduring conflict. Our awareness of the situation compels us to action, for we cannot pretend to be ignorant spectators anymore. The urgency is palpable, the cost of inaction too severe; we can do and need to do better. We must stand on the right side of history, in support of peace, justice, and mutual respect.