2055 Palestinian children have died. Infants that are on ventilators will die if hospitals in Gaza are not able to maintain power and medical care. How is this suffering and death acceptable to anyone with a conscience?
This is the time that defines us. Your action or inaction has consequences in these dire days. This is the time to address your fears, your complacency, and silence. This is the time that we fight for human rights and make a stand for humanity.
It is extremely frightening to realize how many people are not voicing their outrage and it is all due to fear. Or worse, they do not have outrage and are simply apathetic. These people want to insulate themselves from the pain, but pain has a far-reaching hand that cannot be escaped. They excuse their silence and legitimize inaction because of fear. Fear of alienation. Fear of losing friends. Fear of losing followers. The question one has to pose to their self is that, would these people who support genocide be acceptable to be in your life if they have no consideration for another person’s human rights? Do you not realize that your rights are just as easily taken or exchanged if that person feels that you are a threat? The saddest thing is, is that actual rights that are due US citizens are not being met right now and are disappearing like the right to an abortion, and so many are still silent. More rights will be lost in the silence, in apathy, in fear unless a stand is made.
Leaders across the world have only sent their support for Israel to continue their actions which they classify as just in response to the Hamas attack. World leaders are silent on the thousands of deaths of Palestinians and the public has to somehow square the fact that these leaders are also breaking international law by upholding war crimes and actually promoting them as just. How does any electorate look at their official after making a statement in support of genocide and view them as a legitimate leader? They are lawless and expect their constituents to follow their rules and regulations, yet they do not follow or uphold the most basic law possible- human rights.
What are our leaders doing? Where is the diplomacy? Where are the peace talks? Why is there not a major discussion for hostage exchange to end the siege? The US, the UK, Canada, Italy, Germany, and France all support the continuing violence against Palestinians and have stated that the Israeli’s are defending their nation under international law. So not only are the leaders of major foreign powers accepting the genocide, they are shutting down any possibility for pushback by attempting to redefine international law. Article 1 of the Geneva Convention requires that all participants respect and uphold the Convention, which is NOT evident in any of these actions or responses from world powers. This is alarming. They are quite literally trying to reinterpret the Geneva Convention.
And these elected officials are silencing any dissent from academics, journalists, CEO’s, students, and protestors. They are trying to silence any that attack their agenda which is unconditional support for the Israeli siege and genocide. All of these countries have lost their legitimacy when they silence their electorate.
I ask the UN to hold another summit on the articles of the Convention and the duties of foreign nations. These leaders are not reading or comprehending the law (purposely). They are outright projecting a definition that suits their needs but is not the international law that they are beholden to uphold through signing and ratifying.
Please send a copy to all of your elected officials. Call for a ceasefire. Call for unceasing, protected humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Speak up! Lose the friends who don’t support human rights and see the difference in your life by those who choose them. Trust me, there is a difference.
Vote out those who support genocide and attack human rights. Donate money to other candidates who are vocal and who take action.
Sign the petition for a ceasefire or call/message your elected officials. Share with everyone. Ceasefiretoday
Donate to the humanitarian organizations. UNICEF, UNRWA, and Anera.org
These are the days that define our humanity. Do not let anyone else define your humanity for you, take charge and fight.