To those who understand the interconnectedness of our many human struggles
for justice and dignity, we in the Palestinian Civil Society implore you to
act in solidarity as Gaza burns and bleeds, gathers and buries the lifeless
bodies of her children, and contends with carnage and loss for which there
is no language. The Gaza Strip is 139 square mile packed with 1.8 million
people (1.2 million of whom are refugees ethnically cleansed by Israel
between 1947-1950). This open-air prison has been suffocating under a
deadly siege imposed by Israel for years and accommodated by the Egyptian
government under pressure from the USA. A UN report before the latest
assault said the Strip will be unlivable by 2020 but this attacks may bring
that date sooner. Further, Gaza has been subjected to repeated massacres as
Israel uses the small strip as testing grounds for its latest weaponry
(funded by US taxpayers). According to the ministry of health, in its
latest assault on the people of Gaza, Israeli occupation forces
murdered 1283 and injured 7170 human beings (80% of them civilians, >200
children). Entire families are wiped out almost every day by Israel’s
relentless bombing of civilian areas. Even before this latest assault,
Israel has declared 20% of Gaza off-limits to human habitation and has
demolished homes and agricultural fields in those areas. Now Israel has
doubled this scorched earth area to be 40% of Gaza (182,000 displaced). We
watch in horror as Israeli occupation forces destroyed mosques, schools,
hospitals, agricultural areas, industries, and even the only power station
in Gaza. We ask people of conscience to contact media and politicians to
ensure that Israel is not immune from compliance with International
Humanitarian Law. We also ask for expansion of campaigns of boycotts,
divestment, and sanctions (BDS). Hundreds of thousands around the world
demonstrated for Gaza and we are grateful. But more actions at this stage
are needed to prevent large-scale genocide and human catastrophe in Gaza.
As Gaza is forced into darkness and devastation, we must speak on her
behalf. Our friends and family members in Gaza call on you to demand the
lifting of the siege on Gaza, the immediate provision of medical and
humanitarian aid, and holding Israel accountable for war crimes and crimes
against humanity.
