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7/31 Petition to Biden & U.S. Congress

We’ve all known that Israel doesn’t actually want a ceasefire, but their recent assassination of the key negotiator for Hamas should prove that to anyone paying attention. Israel’s assassination of Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh while he was in Iran has completely destroyed all progress and hope for a ceasefire agreement to be reached any time soon. Regardless of your position on Haniyeh, assassinating him during ceasefire negotiations is not a move to peace, it’s a provocation meant to continue Israel’s genocidal war.

And, what incentives does Israel have to stop this? They’ve been given carte blanche and a blank check by this administration to do whatever they want to Palestinians across occupied Palestine, and anyone else in the broader region who oppose their genocide. Without the news cycle of the horrors of the genocide unfolding, the reach of the ongoing news coming out about the horrific, systematic sexual violence and torture of Palestinian hostages held in Israeli “prisons” – aka concentration camps.

I don’t often include trigger warnings in my messages, but to whoever is reading this, if you have any trauma related to sexual violence I recommend you pause and determine if you can handle reading the rest of this letter.

Nine Israelis who “guarded” Palestinian hostages in the Sde Teiman concentration camp were arrested for the aggravated sexual assault of a Palestinian man that left him paralyzed. He was raped so many times, so violently, he has severe internal injuries, including a perforated anus, ruptured intestines, broken ribs that punctured one of his lungs, and damage to his spinal cord. He is still in critical condition after already having surgery. His physical and psychological recovery will be a grueling process for the rest of his life.

What did the act towards possible justice in arresting these 9 men cause? Mass protests and violent riots from protestors wanting the men to be freed. High ranking members of Israel’s Knesset and overall government joined these protests, including Otzma Yehudit, Amichai Eliyah, Zvi Succot, Ben-Gvir and others. One of the prominent members of the Likud Party Netanyahu heads, as well as Israeli lawmaker, Hanoch Milwidsky, defended the rape saying it was legitimate to rape Palestinians held in Israeli jails. The comment was made during official Knesset proceedings.

Approximately 10,000 Palestinian hostages comprising men, women, and children are held in camps like the Sde Teiman concentration camp. If nearly raping someone to death is what is acceptable to do to a grown man, what about the children being held indefinitely in those same camps? Save The Children’s 2023 report on the conditions Palestinian children are held in should shock the conscience of everyone who has one.

I demand that you hold Israel accountable and stop sending them a blank check from American taxpayers to continue these egregious crimes against humanity.

SOURCES

Al Jazeera 7/31 Live Updates

Al Jazeera “Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran“

The Guardian “IDF charges reservist with aggravated abuse of Palestinian prisoners“

Jacobin “Israeli Soldiers Accused of Rape and Torture of Palestinians“

Middle East Monitor “Israel releases soldier after rape allegations at Sde Teiman detention centre“

Haaretz “Military Police Detain Israeli Soldiers Suspected of Abusing Palestinian Detainee“

Yahoo! News “Alleged rape of Palestinian prisoner reveals stark divisions in Israel“

Middle East Monitor “Israel’s use of rape against Palestinian detainees from Gaza exposed“

Al Mayadeen “Schism in ‘Israel’: Detained soldiers accused of rape called ‘heroes’“

Save The Children “Life in Gaza: What’s It Like for Children Growing Up in Conflict?“

Save The Children’s 2023 report “Injustice: Palestinian children’s experience of the Israeli military detention system“