We, the People, should be outraged that our tax dollars are being used to kill innocent Palestinians. This is not self-defense. This is genocide. These actions are against international law and our own laws.

In Gaza, more than 41,000 people have been killed, including 16,000 children; hundreds of aid workers and journalists as well. More than 95,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population displaced several times, often directed to “safe zones” only to be attacked again. Many detainees have been starved, tortured and sexually abused.

Infrastructure that supports clean water, food, sewage and utilities as well as homes, schools, and hospitals, has been intentionally destroyed. This had led to increased hunger and suffering, serious diseases, maternal and newborn deaths, and a growing orphan population. This will result in more hatred and future violence.

The Israeli government justifies this as “self-defense” in response to Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7. Israeli officials were warned numerous times, including the night before, but decided not to send reinforcements. Oct. 7 was horrific, but Israel’s response is disproportionally vengeful, and the worst of their decades of oppression of the Palestinians.

Now violence has spread into the West Bank with attacks on civilians by Israeli forces and illegal Israeli settlers. These are the worst, and largest military raids in the West Bank in two decades.

The U.S. government supports this horror with military aid, some produced in Maine, paid for with our tax dollars that stuff the pockets of corporate arms dealers. These dollars could be used to meet urgent needs here in the U.S.

We, the People, have a responsibility, to demand that the White House and our Congress members stop military aid to Israel now in order to force a ceasefire! Otherwise, we are all complicit.

Christina Rusnov

Winslow