GAZA DEATH TOLL IS UNACCEPTABLE, 40K- 200K PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE DEAD

As of 8/15, Israel has murdered at least 40,005 Palestinians in Gaza since 10/7. Using the calculations shared in the academic paper “Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential“, the current, total estimated death toll that includes indirect deaths due to lack of healthcare, food, and other basic necessities is 200,025. Even the researchers from the paper advise they are using the most conservative multiplier to calculate how many indirect deaths occur per deaths reported. In prior conflicts, the multiplier for indirect deaths range from 3 -15. The multiplier used for Gaza is 4, which is only slightly above the 3 from our country during the Iraq war from 2003 - 2007. The head of EU foreign policy recently stated the destruction caused by Israel in Gaza is likely even higher than what was done during WW2 to German cities like Dresden. If we use the average of these multipliers instead, 9, the estimated death toll would be approximately 400,050. We won't know the true numbers until we have a permanent and total ceasefire. 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 – 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 – Vote no on H.R. 7521 and any similar legislation proposed