1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

From NPR on April 26: “Under the so-called Leahy Law, the U.S. has to restrict assistance to troops accused of human rights violations, and that's never been invoked with Israel. The State Department has been looking into several Israeli units and allegations that date back years before the war in Gaza. Sources say in some cases, Israel has taken steps to respond to U.S. concerns about the mistreatment of Palestinians in the West Bank, and the U.S. is looking at new information about one unit still under scrutiny. That's believed to be Netzah Yehuda, which started as a unit for the ultra-Orthodox but has become filled with nationalists and West Bank settlers, according to Yehuda Shaul, co-director of the Ofek Center, a think tank in Jerusalem.” 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. U.N. human rights expert, 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. 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 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 UNRWA 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.