1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

From Al Jazeera on July 7: Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, says Palestinians in Gaza have been "trapped in a hell without comparison" since October 8 and that a ceasefire should be imposed on Israel. "There is no way they can be safe in Gaza. It is shocking to me that there is even a resolution of the UN Security Council ordering a ceasefire and it is still not in place," Albanese told Al Jazeera from Catania, Italy. "There is no other way to stop this carnage in Gaza other than enforcing a ceasefire [on Israel]," she added. Albanese said she agrees the worldwide reaction to Israel's attack on Gaza has gone quieter in recent weeks after anti-war protests were repressed, including in the West. People are horrified with what is happening in Gaza and distressed because politicians fail to respond to their demands for action against Israel. "The politics do not align with the street," she said. President Biden 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 and a violation of Leahy Law, which prohibits our government from funding foreign forces who are implicated in gross human rights violations. 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. Israel is ignoring the I.C.J. ruling on May 24 to halt the offensive on Rafah. The U.S. stands alone in vetoing Palestine’s request for U.N. membership. The U.S. continues to ignore the U.N. resolution on March 25 for a ceasefire. 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 U.N.R.W.A funding. A permanent ceasefire is an absolutely critical step to ensuring everlasting liberation and peace. The I.C.J. 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.