Israel Is Starving Gaza Into Submission / Israel Refuses Phase 2 of Ceasefire and Blocks Aid to Gaza / Israel’s Blockade Is a War Crime—Take Action Now / Israel is Weaponising Aid to Renege Ceasefire
Dear [Elected Official’s Name’],
After refusing to move into Phase 2 of the ceasefire deal, Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid into Gaza — weaponising starvation to force Palestinians to submit. By reneging on the truce and cutting off life-saving supplies, Israel is ensuring the ceasefire will not move forward. More than two million Palestinians rely on humanitarian aid because Israel controls the entry of all goods into Gaza as the occupying state.
Phase 2 of the deal would include a full withdrawal of Israel’s occupation forces, the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian hostages taken by Israel, and a permanent end to Israel’s genocide campaign in Gaza. Despite agreeing to this framework, Israel refuses to move into Phase 2. Instead, it has agreed to a ‘US framework’ that would extend Phase 1 through Ramadan in exchange for half of the hostages left in Gaza.
Hamas has repeatedly offered to release all the hostages it holds in Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian hostages imprisoned by Israel and recognition of Palestinians’ right to self-determination over their land and people. Israel has refused these proposals, making clear that its objective is not to secure the hostages’ return but to continue its occupation, mass imprisonment, settlement expansion and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.
Blocking aid for a political motive to pressure people into submission is a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. This cannot be allowed to stand and you must take action.
Sanctions against other states have proven effective in halting egregious human rights abuses; they must be applied here. A two-way trade embargo and weapons sales ban, and an end to all diplomatic relations with the state headed by an ICC-wanted war criminal is essential. Our actions must pressure Israel to end the illegal occupation and systems of apartheid. Palestinians deserve the right to self-determination.
Your constituent,
[Full Name]
[Full Address]
