I’m writing as a constituent to say that I believe there should be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Roughly 30,000 Palestinians have now been killed and 70,000 have been wounded since Israel's ground invasion and bombing of Gaza began. Northern Gaza's last functioning hospital shut down this week due to a fuel shortage and lack of medical supplies. It is not hyperbole to say the healthcare system in Gaza has collapsed.
On top of the sheer number of dead, the living situation in Gaza has become increasingly desperate. 80% of Gazans, or 1.7 million people, have been displaced. Half of Gaza's civilian infrastructure has been destroyed. Gazans are continuously evacuating to where Israel tells them to go, then finding out Israel is going to invade that area next.
On top of all this, hunger is now setting in. One senior U.N. aide official said "famine is almost inevitable.”
Finally, more than 100 people were killed and hundreds more injured in Gaza City yesterday. The deaths occurred in the context of staggering suffering caused by the Israeli government’s relentless 5-month assault. The situation is utterly unmanageable, inhuman, and unacceptable.
What happened on October 7th was horrific and despicable. Hamas must absolutely be dealt with. Israel deserves to defend itself. The remaining hostages must be returned. All of that is unequivocally true.
But as for the bombardment? It’s time to say enough is enough—right now. And not only for the sake of Gazan civilians. I believe that an immediate ceasefire will make Israelis and Jews safer, while also improving the odds of a longstanding, thriving, and safe Israeli state.
The. Carnage. Must. Stop.
I’d like to hear you call for a ceasefire right now. Thank you.
