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2/24 Petition to Biden & U.S. Congress

I never thought that one of the things I’d experience in my life would be donating to crowdfunding campaigns to try and save the lives of people trapped in concentration-death camps because my government refuses to stop funding and providing support for a genocidal ethnic cleansing campaign. As of 2/24, approximately 29,600 – 38,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Gaza since 10/7. I can’t overstate my abject terror. I donate as much as I can, knowing that it may not be enough to save the family from becoming part of the disturbing death toll.

Because of your refusal to stand with the rest of humanity in doing everything possible to stop Israel’s genocide, and your complicity through actions like the defunding of UNRWA, the people in northern Gaza are starving to death in unheard of rates. UNRWA cannot provide aid any longer to northern Gaza due to lack of funds, and the continued targeting and murder of the aid workers who attempt the trip.

Meanwhile, Israeli terrorists like Izador Elgabril post online their disgusting war crimes and get away with literal murder. Elgabril recently bragged about burning Palestinian homes and those trapped inside in order to make way for future Israeli settlements. He said “a little BBQ is great fun”.

What is it going to take for you to do the right thing?

I demand that you: 

– Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire

– Call for the immediate end of Israel’s occupation and apartheid and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace

– Hold Israel accountable for their violations of the Genocide Convention and all other international laws by any means necessary

– 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 resume 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

– 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 2/24 Live Updates

Estimated deaths as of 2/23 – 2/24 from multiple sources*

Al Jazeera quotes 29,606 dead as of 2/24/24. 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 38,066 dead shown on an infographic posted on their Instagram (link to post) as of 2/23/24. 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“