CHILD OUTSIDE OF AL-SHIFA, "I'M SCARED. I CANNOT TAKE THIS ANYMORE. PLEASE"

I remember vividly when the al-Shifa Hospital was besieged back in November. I couldn't sleep. I cried to the point it was physically painful - the type of sobs that wrack your body and make your stomach hurt. My mind was occupied, as Palestine was and still is, by Israeli war crimes. It's the third day of the most recent siege of the al-Shifa Hospital. There are tens of thousands of people in and near the al-Shifa hospital, desperate for shelter, food, and medical aid. Reports on those who have been murdered, injured, and abducted vary. Israel refuses to allow international humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross entry to al-Shifa to try and save those wounded and still trapped inside. Families trapped inside are begging anyone who will listen to allow food inside - they are all being starved to death by Israel. On 3/18, I watched first responders try and resuscitate a 5 - 8 year old child whose lifeless body laid next to her father's dead body after a heavy bombardment of the entire area around al-Shifa. This particular tragedy happened after a building on Al-Jalaa street was bombed. The number of bombs dropped just that evening alone were enough that a 46 video clip had the sounds of what must have been 10 airstrikes. Israel reports they "killed 90 gunmen" and "Hamas is at al-Shifa". You want to know what I saw? I saw a small boy carrying a baby fleeing the area, terrified and crying- he said "I swear to God, I'm scared. I cannot take this anymore. Please." They've forced thousands to "evacuate" to the South, on foot - among them is 4 year old Saja who is suffering from severe facial burns from a prior Israeli attack. These people are injured, starving to death, and have been under the threat of total annihilation for months, and still, you do nothing. I am so ashamed of this country. I hate that my tax dollars have paid for the disfiguring, painful burns on Saja's face - the countless other horrific injuries, torture, indignities Palestinians have been forced to endure. I demand that you:  - Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire - 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 – Vote no on H.R. 7521 and the RESTRICT Act and all other legislation proposed with similar aims that will infringe upon my right to free speech