The US must stop sending weapons that kill aid workers and innocent people
The calamity of war, wherever, whenever and upon whomever it descends, is a tragedy for the whole of humanity. - Raisa Gorbacheva
Anyone trying to give food and water to someone in need is exactly the kind of people we need more of in this world
There have been over 196 aid workers killed in the Israel/Gaza war, in addition to workers from the World Food Bank.1 "Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, John Chapman, Jacob Flickinger, Zomi Frankcom, James Henderson, James Kirby and Damian Sobol risked everything for the most fundamentally human activity: to share our food with others."2
Food should not be used as a weapon of war. Yet here we are seeing the images, video, and reading how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to push Israel into a war-torn Gaza, push 1.1 million Palestinian people to their starvation, and kill over 33,000 Palestinians, of whom most were innocent women and children (reports indicate that 70% of the fatalities in GAZA have been women and children). If that was not enough, Israel issued an airstrike, killing seven World Central Kitchen workers.
It's been suggested that the bombing of the 3-vehicle caravan was pre-meditated and deliberate to scare off aid agencies and their volunteers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu excused the attack, saying, "It happens in war." I wouldn't know what the intent was of Israel when they bombed the three vehicles marked clearly "World Food Bank" (and who were coordinating their movements with Israel). But, I can tell you that we, as a People Power United community, will honor the deaths of the seven aid workers and all who have fallen in the Israel-Gaza war with our actions.
Every day the United States funds and arms Israel without accountability is another day our nation is complicit in the deaths of thousands of innocent women and children in Gaza. 1.1 Million are facing starvation in Gaza. We can not look away.
Let's also acknowledge that Israel has absolutely the right to defend their borders and seek out the Hamas terrorists who killed and kidnapped their citizens. Israel has no right to commit human rights abuses or war crimes.
Because no progress has been made on returning the hostages to Israel, and there is a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza with a famine happening, we are calling for a stoppage of all weapons being sent to Israel by the United States until Israel has agreed to:
Open new entry routes
Allow more trucks through border checks each day
Ensure fewer restrictions on the movement of humanitarian workers
Guarantee the safety of people accessing and distributing aid
A cease-fire
A pathway for a two-state solution
With regards to a cease-fire, anyone resisting a cease-fire in GAZA is, at this point, standing in the way of peace in the Middle East. The argument that a cease-fire will only benefit Hamas by allowing it to regroup and carry out fresh incursions is very weak, and here is why:
The United States and Israel have world-class military forces and intelligence-gathering capabilities. Suggesting that the Israeli border cannot be secured by the combined might of these two nations would acknowledge that millions of dollars have been squandered over the past 51 years, and giving Israel more money at this point in history would be a wasted effort.
A senior UN aid official has warned that half of Gaza's population is starving as fighting there continues. Additionally, no current or long-term plan is in place to return the displaced women and children to their homes. Nor is there a plan to restore hospital services in a war-torn country.
Again, this is unconscionable.
The United States can not continue to be complicit in the death of aid workers, innocent women and children, and families seeking shelter in an area designated a peace zone.
Will you join us in taking People Power United action?
Click here to send a letter to President Biden and Congress:
Call the White House comment line (202) 456-1111 and leave a message:
Hello, my name is ____. I am calling to ask that President Biden stop all weapons being sent to Israel until Israel agrees to:
Open new entry routes
Allow more trucks through border checks each day
Ensure fewer restrictions on the movement of humanitarian workers and
Guarantee the safety of people accessing and distributing aid
A cease-fire
A pathway for a two-state solution
Thanks for taking action!
People Power United Updates
Our group is growing by leaps and bounds! Folks understand that with love in our hearts and hard work, we will reclaim our nation from cruelty, chaos, and confusion. We are having fun making impactful changes in our community! In case you missed it, this past week was busy:
People Power United signs on to an Amici to the Supreme Court in support of Emergency Abortion Care
People Power United joined coalition efforts to urge Senators to nominate Adeel Mangi and denounce the Islamophobic attacks on Mr. Mangi and on all Muslims
Our members took over 100,000 actions this past month!
People Power United joined other local, state, and national groups to issue a statement on Trump’s Election Interference Case In Manhattan.
Can you help our People Power United efforts?
Can you recommend People Power United on Substack? Head to your Substack Settings page and click Publication Details in the left navigation bar. Next to "Recommend other publications on Substack," select "Start recommending."
The number one way you can help us is to engage. Please like, comment, and share our posts on whatever forum you are on. Big shout out to everyone who has stepped up to engage with us!
Can you give us a review on Google why you are a member and how we are impacting our community with People Power? 5 stars are appreciated.
Updates can be found here.
Upcoming Events
Progressive Issues Activism
Next Wednesday - April 10th at 8pm eastern - 7pm central - 6pm mountain - 5pm pacific is our monthly virtual meetup, signup here to join our People Power United Progressive Issues Activism
Letters and Postcards to Voters
Next Wednesday - April 10th at 6:30 pm eastern - 5:30 pm central - 4:30 pm mountain - 3:30pm pacific is our monthly virtual meetup, signup here to join our People Power United Letters and Postcards to Voters
Did you know?
People Power United is a group of community members that champions progressive values and Power for the people. The 2024 election depends on us, and we are attempting to persuade people to vote for Freedom over Fascism. If you wish to support our efforts, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.
Everyone deserves to vote and thrive,
Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests
People Power United | Subscribe to our Substack Newsletter
People Power United - In this community, we will always speak out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, and bigotry!
People Power United is a group of community members that champions progressive values and power for the people. The 2024 election depends on us, and we are attempting to persuade people to vote for Freedom over Fascism. If you wish to support our efforts, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.
Data disclosure: People Power United does not share information. You are always able to opt-out of any action alerts or event reminders we send. We champion progressive values and are a grassroots group committed to increasing voter registration and participation. We are paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-03/how-do-humanitarian-aid-workers-operate-in-war-zones/103661754
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/opinion/jose-andres-let-people-eat.html
Hi I’m from the UK and followed your link to write to President Biden, but the form will not accept my return address.
The continuing supply of arms to Israel is an issue that concerns people around the world, and three of the aid workers killed were British. Is it possible to provide either a return address in the US to use, an email address for the President, or alternative arrangements for letters from outside the US to be collected en masse?
The UK also supplies arms to Israel, albeit on a much smaller scale. Any UK readers who wish to write to/email their MP, please see the note on my Re-stack. Thanks.