You cannot be silent while so many suffer at the hands of war

The humanitarian crisis erupting in Gaza has devastated all people who hope for peace and justice in our world. Only yesterday, Israeli rockets hit a U.N. refugee school operating in Gaza where at least 40 men, women, and children were killed.

Peace Action abhors the use of violence - by any government, political party, or person.  Our government must join the rest of the world in the first step: a national call for a ceasefire and negotiation. 

While Gaza has been under an-Israeli-imposed economic blockade for over a year, Hamas provoked the war by firing 25 Soviet era rockets into Israeli territory; one of which hit an empty kindergarten, but no people were killed in these attacks and many of the rockets never exploded. Israel responded with air strikes and ground invasion.

According to the New York Times since the invasion began:

Hamas has killed five Israelis;

Palestinian medical officials estimate the death toll there is over 600 and United Nations estimate that about a quarter of those killed were civilians;

Three Israeli soldiers were killed and 24 were wounded when an Israeli tank mistakenly fired at them Monday night;

Fuel and water supplies are severely strained for hundreds of thousands, causing many Palestinians to flee into Egypt; and,

The number of injured Palestinians estimated at over 3,000 people.

As peace activists we cannot be silent while so many suffer at the hands of war. It is our mission to promote global peace by influencing U.S. policies. In this particular conflict there are a number of things you can do.

Congress needs to speak out against the violence and call for a cease-fire and negotiations.  Send them a letter today.  Tell them, "I urge you to support US engagement in efforts to bring an immediate ceasefire that will end the violence and protect all Israeli and Palestinian civilians."

You can also demand U.S. leaders enforce U.S. and international law with a letter to the editor, here.

Go to a vigil or protest in your area by finding your local Peace Action.

How ever you take action, please do so today.  The crisis in Gaza will continue until the U.S. takes a stand against all violence.

Sincerely,

Kevin M. Martin
Executive Director
Peace Action
http://www.peace-action.org/