1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

Urgent: Sanctions for War Crimes I am writing to express my deep concern at Israel’s continued bombing campaign targeting refugee tents and residential areas in Gaza. These attacks have killed innocent civilians, including children, in areas that were designated as safe zones. Israeli strikes on the Al-Mawasi “safe zone” in southern Gaza and on a neighbourhood in Gaza City have resulted in the deaths of 14 people. The bombing of tents for displaced people in Al-Mawasi, which was previously designated as a safe area, killed eight people and injured dozens more. These attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern of violence and disregard for civilian lives. Fatima al-Qiq, an elderly woman staying in the Al-Mawasi camp, recounted how Israeli shelling hit the tents while children were sleeping, setting part of the camp ablaze. Her testimony underscores the indiscriminate nature of these attacks and the immediate danger faced by vulnerable populations. Reports of the safe-zone tent airstrikes echo the horrifying attack in Rafah that caused widespread fires, burning alive families who had survived the initial bombings. Across Gaza, indiscriminate airstrikes continue to pound civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, kitchens, and hospitals. In Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands are sheltering in the ruins of homes and tents, more than six people were killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes. Further casualties and fatalities were also reported in Oreiba, Rafah’s Al Saudi neighbourhood, and the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp. EuroMed estimates the civilian death toll to account for 91% of all deaths over the past 8 months. A UN human rights panel has also concluded Israel is committing “extermination” against Palestinians. This is deliberate, and this must end. The international community cannot stand by while these atrocities continue. The bombings of designated safe zones, refugee camps and residential areas violate international humanitarian laws and underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive response to protect civilians. I urge you to take immediate action. This includes sanctions to enforce a lasting ceasefire, guaranteeing unimpeded access for humanitarian aid organisations, and demanding accountability for those responsible for war crimes. We must act now to prevent further loss of innocent lives and to provide the necessary support to the survivors who are in desperate need of assistance. Tomorrow’s victims can be saved by today’s ceasefire. The situation in Gaza is a man-made humanitarian catastrophe, and it is our moral obligation to do everything in our power to bring an end to this suffering. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.