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2/3 Petition to Biden & U.S. Congress

As of 2/3, approximately 27,200 – 35,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Gaza since 10/7 by Israel. Approximately 13,642 are children. Taking figures from the same source, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, about 40% of those murdered are CHILDREN. Take that in for a minute. Figures from back in October & November from multiple NGOs and IGOs, including Save The Children, already proved that the number of children murdered had already surpassed the annual number of children murdered in every other conflict since 2019. The figures we have right now ONLY include those murdered by bombardment, artillery fire, shrapnel, and crushed under the rubble by Israel’s military. We do not have the ability to know right now, due to the apocalyptic conditions on the ground, how many MORE have died due to starvation, illness, and other 100% preventable health issues caused by the direct targeting of and intentional destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system.

These horrific numbers don’t include those who have been murdered throughout the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and all other areas of occupied Palestine. We haven’t begun to discuss the thousands of children, women, and men who have been illegally abducted, tortured, and executed. I am truly terrified every single day witnessing this genocide unfold. I am disturbed by my government and every other in the world who have been funding, and participating in this. I have never known what terrorism felt like until now and it’s because of you.

I demand that you: 

– Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the West Bank, and all areas the Israeli military is murdering or otherwise violating the human rights of Palestinians

– Secure the safe release of Mansour Shouman, a Palestinian Canadian independent journalist and humanitarian worker who was recently illegally abducted by Israel in Khan Younis on 1/23 while trying to evacuate to Rafah from the Nasser Hospital on a “safe route” as directed by Israel

– Call for the immediate end of genocide, apartheid, and occupation, and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom, peace, and their human rights

– Call for the immediate release of Palestinian “prisoners” (hostages) held captive in Israeli military prisons

– Permanently end all monetary and military aid given to Israel by correcting our budget and enforcing Leahy Law

– Reallocate all funds given to Israel to ongoing humanitarian relief for Palestinians to help them rebuild, care for the sick & injured, bury the dead with dignity, and ensure all of their basic needs are taken care of

– Repeal all federal anti-BDS laws and pass legislation that voids all state-level anti-BDS laws

– Restore my right to free speech and the freedom of the press by condemning all discrimination or harassment for criticizing any government or political ideology (including zionism) and by doing everything possible to prevent future assaults to my rights, including governmental control and/or censorship of the Internet

SOURCES

Al Jazeera “Is Israel’s Gaza war the deadliest conflict for children in modern times?“

Estimated deaths as of 2/3/24 from multiple sources*

Al Jazeera quotes 27,238 dead as of 2/3/24. Al Jazeera always includes the most up-to-date official death tolls on their Breaking/live updates page. Because the daily live pages are refreshed so frequently for each new day, I can’t link you to a specific date. You can always check the Breaking/live section on their site for the most recent official numbers.

EuroMed Monitor quotes an estimated 35,096 total dead, 13,642 of which are children, shown on an infographic posted on their Instagram (link to post) as of 2/3/24. Their website has past infographics, but does not currently have this newest one included as of writing this blog post. This is not unusual- I believe they first post on social media and then add to the infographic section of their site later. Prior infographics posted on Instagram and then shown on their site have the exact same figures & data.

*Why are multiple sources used for the death count?

Associated Press “Gaza health officials say they lost the ability to count dead as Israeli offensive intensifies“

The situation in Gaza has only gotten worse since the AP published this article on 11/21. The official numbers we are seeing from Gaza’s Ministry of Health are undercounted, and have been since at least 11/21.

EuroMed Monitor is a NGO established in 2011 that advocates for the human rights of all persons across Europe and the MENA region. They have a regional office in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. I believe their estimates are credible which is why I quote them, and will continue to, when referring to the estimated death toll.

My personal opinion is that the true number is even higher than estimated- people are dying from starvation, thirst, infections, and illnesses. Even if the genocide ended this moment, these types of deaths will unfortunately continue for some time. I believe their deaths should be counted. They may not have been shot/bombed/etc. by the Israeli military, but their deaths are directly attributable to the total siege, occupation, and intentional** destruction of civilian, water, waste management, and medical infrastructure by Israel.

**Why are you accusing Israel of intentionally destroying important infrastructure and targeting civilians?

It’s not an accusation. They’ve admitted to it.

The Guardian “‘The Gospel’: how Israel uses AI to select bombing targets in Gaza“

972 Magazine “‘A mass assassination factory’: Inside Israel’s calculated bombing of Gaza“