Israeli public health officials urge ceasefire to stop polio in Gaza

From Al Jazeera on July 22: A ceasefire is the only way to protect babies in Gaza and Israel from a polio epidemic, Israeli public health professors have said. Eight professors of epidemiology, hematology and other health sciences are calling for a ceasefire in besieged and bombarded Gaza, citing polio detection in sewage samples in the enclave as a threat to both Israelis and Palestinians. On Friday, World Health Organization chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said a ceasefire was "essential" to effectively respond after type-2 poliovirus was found in several wastewater samples taken in southern Gaza. On Sunday, the Israeli army said it has started "a broad vaccination operation for all ground troops" in Gaza. The highly contagious virus is caught by drinking contaminated water or through oral contact. It can cause paralysis and in extreme cases, death. President Biden continues to supply and fund Israel while knowing since October 2023 that Israel has been targeting civilians. On July 11, he approved more 500 pound bombs to supply Israel. This is continued participation in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians and a violation of Leahy Law, which prohibits our government from funding foreign forces who are implicated in gross human rights violations. International scholar and lawyer, Francesca Albanese, has documented how Israel’s gross human rights violations and war crimes are genocidal acts, including their targeting of hospitals and healthcare workers, targeting journalists and civilians, using starvation as a weapon, etc. Israeli government officials have repeatedly expressed genocidal intent. The Gaza Strip's ability to produce food and clean water has been severely destroyed by Israeli airstrikes and bulldozers which have razed farms and orchards. People have unearthed mass graves with evidence of torture. The U.S. stands alone in vetoing Palestine’s request for U.N. membership. The U.S. continues to ignore the U.N. resolution on March 25 for a ceasefire. As people of conscience, we will not ignore this. I am demanding you to take immediate steps to stop Israel’s genocide of Palestinians by calling for 1) a total and permanent bilateral ceasefire, 2) humanitarian aid allowed to enter Gaza, 3) an end to Israel's siege on Gaza, 4) the release of all Palestinian and Israeli hostages, 5) no more weapons or funding to the Israeli military, 6) the reinstatement of U.N.R.W.A funding. A permanent ceasefire is an absolutely critical step to ensuring everlasting liberation and peace. The I.C.J. ruled that Israel should do everything in its power to prevent genocide. Never again means never again for anyone. Palestinians deserve to live with freedom and safety which means first stopping this genocide and then ensuring liberation from occupation and apartheid. The liberation and safety of Palestinians, Israelis, Jewish people, and Muslim people are intertwined. There can only be true safety when we are all free from oppression.