GAZA NEEDS HUMANITARIAN AID NOW

Daily Action
Written By Barbara Isaacman

QUICK READ: Netanyahu’s right-wing extremist government has the right to respond to Hamas’ horrific October 7th attacks, which constituted war crimes and violated international law, but not itself to commit war crimes against the Palestinian people. Congress’ decision pulling all funding from UNRWA, the only agency capable of distributing humanitarian aid, will create even more suffering, starvation, and disease in Gaza and must be reversed. The continuing carnage must stop. 


CONTENTS:

BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND:

Responding to Hamas’ horrific October 7th attacks, Israel launched a massive assault on Gaza whose stated aims were to free the hostages and annihilate Hamas.

In the 4½ months since, Israeli bombings and ground forces:

·       Cut off access to electricity, water, fuel, and food, and prevented entry of humanitarian aid, violating the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) order;

·       Killed almost 30,000 (with another 7000+ still missing) and wounded almost 70,000—most victims being women and children;

·       Damaged or destroyed almost all Gaza’s civilian infrastructure; 

·       Displaced 85%, most fleeing to Rafah.

The destruction, largely using US-provided arms, failed to achieve Israel’s objectives.   

Instead, it’s provoked an unprecedented humanitarian crisis of disease, starvation, and mass displacement, supporting the ICJ’s preliminary findings of a plausible genocide case against Israel. 

Now, Netanyahu’s pursuing a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah, where 1,500,000 refugees are trapped in overcrowded makeshift encampments—a catastrophe of genocidal proportions. 

Were the Senate-passed aid package enacted, the catastrophe would worsen, since it precludes US funding for UNRWA, the most important humanitarian aid group serving Gaza, based on Israel’s claim that 12 of its 13,000 employees participated in Hamas’ attacks, and requires any future Gazan aid to first be approved by Congress. 

Senator Merkley’s working to change this. It’s time for Congress to do likewise.

ACTION One: Call the Senate.

Script for Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thank you for all you’ve done to try to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza--demanding a permanent ceasefire, calling for more humanitarian aid, and refusing to vote to send more bombs to Israel to be used indiscriminately against Palestinian civilians. It is also unconscionable that Congress has pulled all funding from UNRWA, the only agency capable of distributing aid, which will create even more suffering, starvation, and disease in Gaza. While your position may be lonely, we implore you to keep pushing the Senate in the right direction and, hopefully, also President Biden. Protecting our own citizens from indiscriminate violence stemming from our lax gun laws must also immediately be addressed, given the abhorrent recent bloodshed in Kansas City.

*SEN. WYDEN:* Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Israel’s 4 ½ month siege in Gaza has neither destroyed Hamas nor freed the remaining hostages. Instead, it has created what the UN Secretary General describes as “a crisis of humanity,” “a living hell,” “a blood bath,” and a situation of “utter, deepening, and unmatched horror.” That Congress has pulled all funding from UNRWA, the only agency capable of distributing aid, will create even more suffering, starvation, and disease in Gaza. Please convince your colleagues to reverse this position, and push for a permanent ceasefire, the first step towards creating the conditions for peace in the Middle East.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

Israel’s 4 ½ month siege in Gaza has neither destroyed Hamas nor freed the remaining hostages. Instead, it has created what the UN Secretary General describes as “a crisis of humanity,” “a living hell,” “a blood bath,” and a situation of “utter, deepening, and unmatched horror.” That Congress has pulled all funding from UNRWA, the only agency capable of distributing aid, will create even more suffering, starvation, and disease in Gaza. Please convince your colleagues to reverse this position, and push for a permanent ceasefire, the first step towards creating the conditions for peace in the Middle East.

ACTION TWO: Call the House.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Israel’s 4 ½ month siege in Gaza has neither destroyed Hamas nor freed the remaining hostages. Instead, it has created what the UN Secretary General describes as “a crisis of humanity,” “a living hell,” and a situation of “utter, deepening, and unmatched horror.” When the Senate-passed military aid package comes up for a vote, please work to remove Section 614, the provision pulling all funding from the UNRWA, the only agency capable of distributing the humanitarian aid the starving Palestinians so desperately need, and to add specific funds targeted for Gazan aid.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Israel’s 4 ½ month siege in Gaza has neither destroyed Hamas nor freed the remaining hostages. Instead, it has created what the UN Secretary General describes as “a crisis of humanity,” “a living hell,” and a situation of “utter, deepening, and unmatched horror.” When the Senate-passed military aid package comes up for a vote, please work to remove Section 614, the provision pulling all funding from the UNRWA, the only agency capable of distributing the humanitarian aid the starving Palestinians so desperately need, and to add specific funds targeted for Gazan aid.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Israel’s 4 ½ month siege in Gaza has neither destroyed Hamas nor freed the remaining hostages. Instead, it has created what the UN Secretary General describes as “a crisis of humanity,” “a living hell,” and a situation of “utter, deepening, and unmatched horror.” When the Senate-passed military aid package comes up for a vote, please work to remove Section 614, the provision pulling all funding from the UNRWA, the only agency capable of distributing the humanitarian aid the starving Palestinians so desperately need, and to add specific funds targeted for Gazan aid.

Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Israel’s 4 ½ month siege in Gaza has neither destroyed Hamas nor freed the remaining hostages. Instead, it has created what the UN Secretary General describes as “a crisis of humanity,” “a living hell,” and a situation of “utter, deepening, and unmatched horror.” When the Senate-passed military aid package comes up for a vote, please work to remove Section 614, the provision pulling all funding from the UNRWA, the only agency capable of distributing the humanitarian aid the starving Palestinians so desperately need, and to add specific funds targeted for Gazan aid.

Script for Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Israel’s 4 ½ month siege in Gaza has neither destroyed Hamas nor freed the remaining hostages. Instead, it has created what the UN Secretary General describes as “a crisis of humanity,” “a living hell,” and a situation of “utter, deepening, and unmatched horror.” When the Senate-passed military aid package comes up for a vote, please work to remove Section 614, the provision pulling all funding from the UNRWA, the only agency capable of distributing the humanitarian aid the starving Palestinians so desperately need, and to add specific funds targeted for Gazan aid.

Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Israel’s 4 ½ month siege in Gaza has neither destroyed Hamas nor freed the remaining hostages. Instead, it has created what the UN Secretary General describes as “a crisis of humanity,” “a living hell,” and a situation of “utter, deepening, and unmatched horror.” When the Senate-passed military aid package comes up for a vote, please work to remove Section 614, the provision pulling all funding from the UNRWA, the only agency capable of distributing the humanitarian aid the starving Palestinians so desperately need, and to add specific funds targeted for Gazan aid.

FURTHER READING

Barbara Isaacman
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