The situation in Gaza remains urgent. Israel violates the ceasefire every day, continuing
to kill unarmed civilians. There is no safety. The Rafah Crossing remains closed, preventing thousands of wounded Palestinians from seeking treatment abroad. Many will die because Israel destroyed Gaza’s health care system.

Only a trickle of humanitarian aid has entered Gaza. Israel allows no heavy machinery, essential for clearing rubble, digging for bodies and rebuilding infrastructure like water wells and sewage treatment. Most fuel trucks are denied access. Famine continues. Food remains scarce. Israel reportedly bans many items, especially desperately needed proteins.

Winter approaches. Tents are inadequate. The malnourished are especially vulnerable. Returned Palestinian bodies are unidentified and most show signs of torture. Many are blindfolded with hands and feet bound, with evidence of strangulation, beatings and more. These are civilians Israel abducted over the past two years, now so unrecognizable that Palestinians must bury them in mass graves.

This is the fruit of two callous U.S. administrations that have given Israel a blank check to carry on genocide in Gaza while escalating ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, destroying refugee camps in the north, terrorizing olive farmers and building more illegal settlements.

There will be no peace as long as there is Israeli occupation. Palestinians will rightfully
continue to resist. Do we care about the rule of law, free speech and freedom from
foreign influence? Are we tired of where our tax money goes while domestic programs are
slashed? Palestine should matter to everyone who cares about democracy.

Jamila Levasseur
Waldo