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12/25 Petiton to Biden & U.S. Congress

On the early morning hours on Christmas Day, Israel rained down white phosphorus on a populated area in Jenin, West Bank. The city of Burqa reported a mass detention of residents, including the elderly. They were taken to a citizen’s home the IDF commandeered earlier. It’s unknown what their fates are.

Meanwhile in the Gaza strip, the Al-Aqsa Hospital recieved mass casualties from massacres near Maghazi and Bureij. Initial reports indicate at least 70 dead on arrival. The hospital reported not long after that multiple patients died due to the lack of medical supplies.

What I found to be particularly tragic was the brutal execution of Jamil al-Meqdad’s parents by the IDF in Gaza. Both he and his younger siblings were forced to witness their parents’ torturous murder via stabbing on Christmas Day.

This is only the briefest snapshot of the atrocities that have unfolded on Christmas. After these horrific acts took place, Netanyahu stated that the attacks will only intensify and this was “not close to being over”.

As of Christmas Day, approximately 20,600 to 28,000 Palestinians have been murdered since 10/7. The Israeli assault has already spread outside the Gaza Strip, and the barbarism against all Palestinians has only intensified with a pace that is incomprehensible.

Every day brings new terrors. I cannot celebrate the birth of Christ whilst human beings are massacred in his homeland. The continuation of this genocide is unconscionable.

We must have an immediate, permanent ceasefire. Unrestricted humanitarian aid must be allowed into Gaza. The magnitude of human suffering cannot be quantified. No child should have to witness the murder of their families. Make this stop. I am begging you to do the right thing.

SOURCES

!! CONTENT WARNING !!

Telegram* sources may contain graphic content, viewer discretion is advised.

*Why are you citing reports shared on Telegram?

While Telegram channels on their own are not necessarily credible news reporting, I have found the work Praxis Redacted has done consolidating both official news sources and unofficial citizen reporting (before it becomes breaking news) to be credible, accurate, and substantiated hours or sometimes days later by mainstream news.

Since mid-October when I began following the news about the genocide (and Praxis Redacted), I have not found an incident where sources cited or descriptions used were later proved to be false. I have every reason to believe the events cited below are true.

Most Telegram posts I link will be from Praxis Redacted, but those that are not will be labeled. All of the same disclaimers apply for content warnings and my belief in the credibility of the channels cited. This is a saved text template used across posts, it’s possible no sources outside of Praxis Redacted will be used or that only other channels are cited in this petition. It is also possible that other social media posts will be cited from other platforms, and if so, they will be noted.

Telegram – Citizens reporting white phosphorus used on populated area in Jenin, West Bank

Telegram – Al-Aqsa Hospital reports massacres near Maghazi and Bureij in Gaza Strip

Telegram – Citizens reporting detention of residents in Burqa, West Bank taken to a civilian home comandeered by Israeli military, also reported to Al Jazeera

Telegram – Child reports parents stabbed by Israeli military on social media

Telegram – Al-Aqsa Hospital reports multiple deaths due to lack of medical supplies, also reported to Al Jazeera

BBC News “Israel-Gaza war: Netanyahu vows to intensify campaign“

Estimated deaths as of 12/23 – 12/25 from multiple sources*

Al Jazeera quotes 20,674 dead as of 12/25/23. 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 28,081 dead shown on an infographic posted on their Instagram (link to post) as of 12/23/23. 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“