January 29, 2024

Dear Concerned Friends and Neighbors,

As of today more than 26,400 Gazans have been killed by Israel. This number includes over 10,000 children and 7,500 women. Far from starting on October 7th, the present horror in Gaza is an escalation of over seven decades of occupation, state-sponsored violence, blockade, and apartheid against Palestinians by Israel. This in no way denies nor condones the violence of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th, which resulted in the death of over 1,100 people in Israel. But understanding the historical context is essential to ending the violence and forging a path toward enduring peace.

Food, fuel, medication, proper shelter, and water have been cut off by Israel in Gaza. Many civilians are killed while sheltering in hospitals, schools, places of worship and while fleeing on designated “safe routes” while holding white flags above their heads. Thousands are still under the rubble, over 62,681 are injured, and more than 367 Palestinians have been killed by settlers and Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. The number of deaths by starvation, dehydration, hypothermia, illness, and infection from injury rises with each passing day. Many of the aforementioned acts are in violation of international humanitarian laws and of Articles II and III of the Genocide Convention of 1948.

Genocide is the highest crime and none has been so publicly documented as the current Israeli genocide of Palestinians. We join in solidarity with the now more than 800 civil society organizations and dozens of countries that support South Africa in formally accusing Israel of genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip at the United Nations’ highest judicial body, the International Court of Justice.

The United States continues to send weapons to Israel, a foreign power accused of committing genocide, using our tax dollars. This moment urgently calls us to connect with our collective sense of humanity.  Stand out in solidarity with your community, educate yourself on the history of Palestine and the Israeli Occupation. Call your representatives today and every day. Remind them that it is their duty to speak for their constituents and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Demand that the means to meet basic needs, including food, fuel, medicine, shelter, and clean water be allowed to flow into Gaza. Demand that the United States stop military support and aid to Israel, and that they provide humanitarian support to Gaza.

Traprock Center for Peace and Justice

Franklin County for Peace

Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution

Leahy Fast for Palestine Committee

NuclearBan.US

Western Mass Code Pink

Kairos/Franklin County Justice for Palestine 

Nuclear Free Future

Pax Christi Massachusetts

Jewish Voice for Western Massachusetts

Middle East Peace and Justice Coalition

Massachusetts Peace Action

Quabbin Mediation

Randy Kehler, First Director of Traprock Center for Peace and Justice

W. MA Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ)

To sign on in support send contact info to: Stop the Murder, c/o traprockinfo@crocker.com

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