1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

Recent reports reveal a harrowing reality in Gaza: babies freezing to death amidst the brutal winter. These preventable deaths are a direct consequence of the ongoing Israeli siege and occupation, demanding our moral reckoning. Over 2 million Palestinians, displaced by relentless airstrikes and decades of occupation, are crammed into makeshift shelters. With no heating, adequate supplies, or functioning infrastructure, families endure the cold with nothing but thin blankets and desperate hope. The suffering of the Palestinian people is not just a humanitarian tragedy; it is the result of deliberate policies that deny their basic humanity. The blockade on Gaza, now in its 17th year, has strangled the flow of life-saving aid. Gaza, once described as an open-air prison, has now become an extermination camp where children are born into suffering and often die without experiencing freedom. The withholding of essential humanitarian supplies—food, fuel, blankets, and medical aid—further exacerbates the crisis. Aid workers report insurmountable barriers imposed by Israeli authorities, who use bureaucratic restrictions as a weapon of war. These deliberate actions amount to collective punishment, a clear violation of international law. As a nation that claims to uphold human rights, the U.S. cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities. The plight of Gaza’s children reflects the structural violence inherent in Israeli policies of siege, occupation, and apartheid. Recognizing these root causes is essential to understanding the full scope of the suffering. I call on you to bear witness. The bloodshed and suffering in Gaza are not inevitable—they stem from choices made and supported by the international community. I urge you to reflect on the U.S. role in perpetuating this crisis and to let this knowledge guide your conscience. The children of Gaza, freezing and forgotten, deserve more than our pity—they deserve justice. https://apnews.com/article/gaza-winter-palestinians-aid-israel-24fe23c8ae2743294c169cff4a1431d3 https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/25/middleeast/israel-gaza-babies-freeze-to-death-winter-intl/index.html https://time.com/7203894/gaza-baby-dies-israel-hamas-war/ https://dl-rapidbot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/attachments/1/f853/3ff9/f8533ff9-686d-44a5-b4f8-2c44e5b5b471.php