Dear [Elected Official’s Name],
I am writing to bring to your immediate attention the alarming situation in Jenin, where Israel is systematically decimating the illegally occupied territory. The refugee camp has been targeted by Israel with airstrikes, sniper gunfire, grenades and bulldozers in recent days, as Israel escalates its violent illegal occupation. Palestinian civilians are being tortured and murdered in their homes, and the area is rapidly becoming uninhabitable.
Oruba Shalabi, a resident, described the terror to the BBC as she fled with her 2-month-old baby: “They were shooting at anyone coming close to the windows. All our neighbours were forced out, and we were all put in one room. They got the young men to sit on the floor and tied them up.” This brutality does not stop at the indiscriminate firing. Shalabi further recounted how they “were firing at us and throwing hand-grenades at homes,” and how “half our home was blown up.” These harrowing testimonies reflect the terror that innocent civilians face under occupation.
The destruction of Jenin’s infrastructure is extensive, with some images being difficult to distinguish between the West Bank and Gaza. About 70% of the streets and infrastructure in the refugee camp have been demolished, leaving some areas completely inaccessible and destroying vital water and sewage networks. Israel has also cut off essential services to Jenin, including water, electricity, and phone lines, while imposing a curfew that confines families to their homes. These actions amount to collective punishment and are a clear violation of international law.
The parallels between the tactics used in Jenin and those used in Gaza are undeniable. From the use of drones to indiscriminately kill civilians—including a young man in Jenin and two teenage brothers (13 and 17) in a nearby town—to the blocking of humanitarian aid by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, Israeli forces are employing the same methods of destruction and control. These actions are making Jenin uninhabitable, targeting civilians, displacing families, restricting aid, and decimating infrastructure.
The situation in Jenin is deteriorating rapidly, and it is clear that the West Bank is on the brink of becoming another Gaza. We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. Crimes against humanity cannot be met with words of condemnation, there must be accountability. We have a legal and moral obligation to take action.
An arms embargo and a two-way trade embargo must be enforced until Israel ceases its illegal occupation, apartheid and other human rights violations; this will also add pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza. Recognising the State of Palestine and supporting the prosecution of all perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity is essential.
I look forward to your commitment to upholding international law through these actions.
Your constituent,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]