Dear [Elected Official’s Name],
I am writing to urgently call for immediate action to address the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. Recent estimations published in one of the oldest and highest-impact academic journals, The Lancet, give conservative estimates that the overall death toll in Gaza will surpass 186,000 due to indirect deaths even if Israel’s bombardment and blockade ended immediately. Higher projections put the number over 500,000.
As of 19th June, 37,396 people have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since 7 October 2023. This number is accepted as accurate by Israeli intelligence services, the UN, and WHO, but does not account for tens of thousands of missing or indirect deaths.
“Armed conflicts have indirect health implications beyond the direct harm from violence. Even if the conflict ends immediately, there will continue to be many indirect deaths in the coming months and years from causes such as reproductive, communicable, and non-communicable diseases,” states The Lancet.
The total death toll is expected to be much larger given the bombardment’s intensity, destroyed healthcare infrastructure, severe shortages and blockade of food, water, and shelter, the population’s inability to flee, and loss of funding to UNRWA.
Indirect deaths in recent conflicts range from three to fifteen times the number of direct deaths. Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per direct death to the 37,396 reported deaths, it is likely that over 186,000 deaths could be attributable to the current Israeli military action in Gaza. This estimates 7.9% of the total population.
This number is estimated on the basis that Israel’s military bombardment and blockade stop immediately. Every day without a ceasefire and unimpeded aid access exacerbates the devastating death toll.
Immediate and decisive action is required to stop the continued mass slaughter of Palestinians. I urge you to support the implementation of sanctions against Israel to force an immediate ceasefire and ensure that humanitarian aid can reach those in desperate need. The international community must act now to prevent further loss of life and uphold the principles of human rights and international law.
Yours sincerely,
[Full Name]
[Full Address]