Urgent Action Needed: Halt Israel’s Ethnic Cleansing in the West Bank

I am writing to express my deep concern over the escalating forced displacement and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Since October 7, more than 45,000 Palestinians have been uprooted from their homes due to coordinated actions by Israeli settlers and military forces. Entire villages, such as Wadi al-Siq, Ein Samiya, and Al-Qabun, have been demolished, water supplies severed, and communities systematically erased from their ancestral lands. Journalist and filmmaker Basel Adra, co-director of the Oscar-nominated documentary No Other Land, has been on the ground documenting these atrocities. In a recent interview, Adra shared harrowing footage of Israeli forces storming and demolishing four houses in Masafer Yatta. He reported that settlers, often armed and masked, have attacked his community by throwing stones, smashing vehicles, slashing tires, and puncturing water tanks. Disturbingly, Israeli soldiers present during these attacks did not intervene to halt the crimes. Adra’s documentation reveals a systematic campaign to erase Palestinian presence in the region. He stated, “Masafer Yatta is disappearing in front of my eyes. Only one name for these actions: ethnic cleansing.” Alarmingly, recent statements from President Trump suggest support for policies that could lead to further forced displacement of Palestinians, particularly in Gaza. Such endorsements not only contravene international law but also risk escalating tensions and undermining peace efforts in the region. In light of these developments, I urge you to: 1. Suspend all military aid and weapons transfers to Israel until there is assurance that such support will not facilitate further human rights abuses. 2. Implement targeted sanctions against individuals and entities directly involved in the forced displacement and demolition of Palestinian communities. 3. Advocate for international accountability, supporting investigations by bodies such as the International Criminal Court into potential war crimes and human rights violations. 4. Reaffirm the United States’ commitment to human rights and international law, ensuring that our foreign policy does not endorse or facilitate actions that lead to ethnic cleansing or other severe human rights abuses. The United States has a moral and legal obligation to oppose policies that result in the forced displacement of populations and the violation of human rights. I implore you to take decisive action to halt these injustices and to prevent further escalation of violence and suffering in the region. (https://www.democracynow.org/2025/2/18/basel_adra) (https://www.instagram.com/p/DF46wk9odE0)