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7/22 Petition to Biden & U.S. Congress

The entire area in eastern Khan Younis, where many in Rafah were forced to “evacuate to” is now being “evacuated” again. Over 400,000 people are being told to leave. Minutes after the evacuation order was communicated by Israeli forces, they began unleashing artillery fire and aerial bombardments across the area. Explain to me how this is indicates Israel has “the most moral army in the world”? 400,000 people go outside and prepare to leave as directed, then they’re indiscriminately fired upon. That isn’t an evacuation – that is a massacre. That is an act of genocide.

Today, 7/22, a total of 39,006 Palestinian deaths have been reported since 10/7. Using the most conservative estimate multiplier provided in the academic paper “Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential“ published in The Lancet recently, that means approximately 195,030 Palestinians have been murdered by Israel. We’ve known since late October 2023 the death count is inaccurate, but not in the way this administration has alleged. There aren’t enough people left to identify the dead, rescue those trapped under the rubble, etc. The conditions are so dangerous that often rescue crews must wait long after a massacre has occurred to try and bring the limited excavators and equipment needed to free people trapped under the rubble.

I demand that you: 

– Hold Israel accountable for a permanent, immediate ceasefire, their violations of the Genocide Convention, and gross human rights violations by any means necessary

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

– 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 resuming 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

– Vote no on H.R. 7521 and any similar legislation proposed

SOURCES

Al Jazeera 7/22 Live Updates

The Lancet “Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential“

Estimated deaths as of 7/12 – 7/22 from multiple sources*

Al Jazeera quotes 39,006 dead as of 7/22/24 . 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 46,848 dead shown on an infographic posted on their Instagram (link to post) as of 7/12/24. 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“

For more on The Lancet paper on how estimated death in Gaza, see prior petition “OVER 193,000 DEAD IN GAZA – HOLD ISRAEL ACCOUNTABLE NOW“