1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I'm writing to express deep outrage over the torture and mistreatment of Palestinian detainees by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as reported by the BBC. As a constituent, I'm dismayed by the lack of action from our government, particularly from Democrats who claim to prioritize human rights. The recent reports of chemical burns, beatings, and electric shocks inflicted upon Palestinian prisoners are appalling. These allegations are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a larger pattern of abuse and disregard for human dignity. Human rights organizations have extensively documented these abuses, and it's imperative that our party takes a firm stance against such egregious human rights violations ¹. The Biden administration's response was woefully inadequate. Despite issuing public warnings and ultimatums to Israel, the administration has failed to enforce consequences, effectively giving Israel a sense of impunity. The $17.9 billion in military assistance to Israel since October 2023 is particularly egregious, given the well-documented human rights abuses. As Democrats, we are supposed to pride ourselves on championing human rights and accountability. However, our inaction on this issue undermines these values. The Leahy Law, which prohibits military assistance to countries with a history of human rights abuses, is a prime example of our party’s failure to hold Israel accountable. It is partly why we have this fascist Republican Party in power today. And I can’t help but blame you, too, for this because of your inaction. Our party’s inaction on this issue has severe consequences, including: Undermining international credibility - Our failure to hold Israel accountable erodes our credibility as a champion of human rights and democracy. Fueling anti-American sentiment: - The lack of action on this issue exacerbates tensions in the Middle East and fuels anti-American sentiment. Enabling human rights abuses: - Our continued military assistance to Israel enables and emboldens their human rights abuses. I expect you, as a democrat, as a HUMAN BEING, to take a strong stance against human rights abuses and work towards finding a just and peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. One way to do this is to stop the unconditional support for a right wing, Netanyahu-led government. Source: 1. “Chemical burns, assaults, electric shocks - Gazans tell BBC of torture in Israeli detention.” The BBC, 6 Apr. 2025, (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn7vje365rno)