ISRAEL USING HUMAN SHIELDS - FAMINE IN GAZA WORSE THAN IPC'S FEB PROJECTIONS

In yet another instance of Israel using Palestinians as human shields, videos and photos have been shared showing Israeli forces tying a Palestinian man to the hood of their vehicle as they drove throughout Jenin. Every accusation is a confession. I wish this wasn't the first time I've witnessed Israel use human shields. Back in February while the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis was besieged, Israel forced a Palestinian man they had taken hostage to enter the hospital and tell the people to evacuate. The video of him inside the hospital shows him with his hands still bound in front of him dressed in white PPE. He told them, "Get out of the hospital, you need to get out of the hospital because they are going to blow it up.” When he walked out of the hospital, Israeli snipers shot and killed him. I could keep going - listing all the Palestinians I've witnessed used by Israel as human shields just since 10/7, but I know that most of the recipients of my daily letters don't even care enough to read this in full. As of today, 6/23, over 700,000 Palestinians are experiencing famine. Famine isn't just some subjective word. The IPC advises that famine, the worst and last stage of food insecurity, can be described as a group of people where "even with any humanitarian assistance at least one in five households in the area have an extreme lack of food and other basic needs where starvation, death, and destitution are evident." The IPC's most recent situation and projection report for 3/16 - 7/15 show we're already in the worst case scenario - the ground invasion of Rafah has occurred, along with resumption of ground offenses in the Deir al-Balah area, rapid mass displacement from Rafah where many have fled to the Al Mawasi area. Under this scenario, the IPC advised at least one major epidemic will occur in the new makeshift refugee camps from those who've fled Rafah. This analysis was conducted late February and early March. We've surpassed what the over 40 experts from 18 international agencies believed would be the worst case scenario for this time period. I demand that you:  – Hold Israel accountable for a permanent, immediate ceasefire, their violations of the Genocide Convention, and gross human rights violations by any means necessary – Call for the immediate end of Israel’s occupation and apartheid and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace – 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