Statement on Israel & Gaza, 10/23/23
There appears to be a mass homicidal event taking place in Gaza two weeks after the awful massacre of 1400 Israelis by Hamas soldiers. 5000 Palestinians are dead, including 2000 children, and the Israeli bombing campaign is increasing. People describe a flurry of bombs arching into Gaza like a combustible meteor shower, steady and relentless, laying waste to everything. Palestinian human rights lawyer, Raji Sourani, whose home in Gaza was destroyed last night and who barely escaped with his life had this to say this morning on Democracy Now: “They almost destroyed… They destroyed Gaza… I mean, it’s unbelievable. This army targeting only civilians and civilian targets? Towers, houses, hospitals, churches, mosques, schools, shelter places, ambulances, doctors, journalists…” Reports are emerging of US officials feeling discomfort and concern when speaking to their Israeli counterparts and hearing their referencing a need for something on the scale of the WWII bombing of Dresden. Both the history of Israel/Palestine and chilling, deeply dehumanizing comments made by officials in Netanyahu’s government seem to presage some awful event of ethnic cleansing. As an American who seeks to be conscious of our nation’s history and its crimes, I’ve become familiar with the trajectory of settler colonial nations. These watershed moments of grand moves to “deal with the native population” occur and they can become catastrophic crimes against humanity. What is occurring in Gaza is supported by Joe Biden & most of the US Congress and the bombs that are falling in this mass homicidal event are made in America. Each of us has the duty to do everything we can to stop this mad campaign — march, speak, write, learn, call & email members of Congress, join with people of all faiths to help stop this race to oblivion in the Middle East. Many organizations — for example, Jewish Voice for Peace — have excellent resources for activists.
