FAMINE IMMINENT FOR ALL OF GAZA - PEOPLE ARE STARVING TO DEATH RIGHT NOW

On 8/3, Ishaq Mushtaha was starved to death by Israel at age 29. He suffered from Crohn's disease which further complicated the treatment he required to survive. In June Ishaq and his doctors begged Israel to allow him to leave Gaza for the intensive medical intervention required to save his life. This desperate, urgent request was never answered. Ishaq died due to Israel's intentional and total destruction of Gaza's healthcare system and infrastructure and the ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid. The limited amounts that have been allowed in since 10/7 have been completely insufficient to address the dire needs of the people. Another family is facing the high likelihood of a similar tragedy. Younis, a 9 year old child, is slowly starving to death. He is dangerously dehydrated and his body is so emaciated you can see his ribs prominently. His mother, Ghanima Juma’a, has been forced to watch her child slowly and agonizingly starve. Without immediate and specialized medical intervention that is not available in Gaza due to the current conditions Israel has crated, Younis will die. The experts at the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) organization who evaluate the severity and magnitude of food insecurity across the world have advised in their most recent projection report for 6/16/24 - 9/30/24 that widespread famine is imminent across the entirety of Gaza. Northern Gaza has already been experiencing famine conditions. As of right now, approximately 22% of Gaza is experiencing famine conditions, which the IPC designates as level 5 catastrophe which is the highest phase. 33% are in the level 4 emergency phase. All 2.15 million people are facing high levels of food insecurity, with 96% at the level 3 crisis phase. The risk of widespread famine is imminent if humanitarian aid continues to be restricted and Israel does not agree to 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