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1/28 Petition to Biden & U.S. Congress

As of 1/28, approximately 26,400 – 33,300 Palestinians have been murdered by Israel since 10/7. You need to enforce international law right now. The recent ICJ ruling is clear – while it doesn’t use the word ceasefire, there is no other outcome that would fulfill the provisional measures required to protect Palestinian civilians. My government has repeatedly lied in regards to this genocide, most recently that the ICJ didn’t think Israel was committing a genocide. That case will take years to reach an outcome. The fact it wasn’t thrown out and provisional measures were ruled means that the ICJ finds there is credible evidence that a genocide is occurring.

One allegation from Israel that a handful of UNRWA workers, out of thousands, had something to do with the attacks on Israeli civilians on 10/7 was enough for you to withdraw aid funding. First off, you continue to find new ways to disgust me, congrats, but this is you going against the ICJ and proof of your selective enforcement of our own laws, notably Leahy law. The ICJ ruling serves as credible evidence per Leahy vetting policy. Enforce both international and national law NOW.

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 Schouman, a Canadian Palestinian independent journalist and humanitarian worker recently illegally abducted by Israel in Khan Younis around 1/22 – 1/24 when he was evacuating to Rafah as directed on “safe routes”

– 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

Estimated deaths as of 1/25 – 1/28 from multiple sources*

Al Jazeera quotes 26,422 dead as of 1/28/24. 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 33,360 dead shown on an infographic posted on their Instagram (link to post) as of 1/25/24. 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“

Al Jazeera “The ICJ ruling was a legal victory at the cost of Palestinian lives“

Reuters “ICJ ruling: Key takeaways from the court decision in Israel genocide case“

International Court of Justice “Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel)“