Yesterday, 3/18, Israeli forces began another brutal siege on the Al-Shifa Hospital. Approximately 30,000 people being starved to death by Israel have taken refuge in what remained of the hospital after the first time Israeli forces reigned terror upon it. Brave doctors and medical staff returned to do whatever they can without any supplies to try and save lives. Al Jazeera's team of journalists at Al-Shifa were among those mass abducted. One of the journalists, Ismail al-Ghoul, was released after 12 hours after being viciously beaten, blindfolded, tied up, and left on the floor among other people Israeli forces had taken. The staff, patients, and refugees at the hospital are on their second day without any food or water. They will all die if nothing is done to protect them.
This is just one more war crime in the long list of crimes Israeli has committed just since 10/7. The entire world has a moral obligation to stand up and end this genocide. And, our country specifically has the largest obligation as we are the largest financer of the state of Israel in both military and economic aid. Our country is so entangled and complicit in Israel's genocide we are just as guilty if not more so. It's unconscionable to me to know my tax dollars are being used for a foreign government's crimes instead of being used to help my country.
I demand that you:
- Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire
- Call for the immediate end of Israel's occupation and apartheid and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace
- Hold Israel accountable for their violations of the Genocide Convention and all other international laws by any means necessary
- Secure the immediate release and safety of all Palestinians who have been abducted and held captive by Israel, including those whose indefinite detention began prior to 10/7
- Permanently end all monetary, diplomatic, and military aid given to Israel and enforce Leahy Law
- Reallocate all funds given to Israel and commit additional resources for ongoing humanitarian relief for Palestinians starting with immediately resuming funding of UNRWA
- Immediately withdraw all U.S. troops, military assets, and all other assets deployed throughout the Middle East and cease all actions that further escalate a larger regional conflict
- Pass legislation that voids all anti-BDS laws at the federal level
- Restore my right to free speech and the freedom of the press by condemning all discrimination or harassment for criticizing any government or political ideology (including zionism) and by doing everything possible to prevent future assaults to my rights, including governmental control and/or censorship of the Internet
