PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2024
CONTACT:
Elizabeth Hallett, 541-292-2106, info@peacehouse.net
Peace House is one of dozens of organizations in 17 states pushing Senators to support a ceasefire in Gaza and an investigation into alleged human rights abuses through Sen. Res. 504
ASHLAND–Today, peace and human rights organizations across Oregon and 16 other states delivered letters to their US Senators urging they support a ceasefire in Gaza, and supporting legislative initiatives to ensure any US military aid to Israel complies with US and International law.
“We cannot remain silent while Israel continues its brutal assault on the people of Gaza,” said Elizabeth V. Hallett, Executive Director of Peace House. “More than 23,000 people have died in the past 100 days from Israel’s bombardment, including more than 8,000 children. While the Hamas attacks on October 7 were horrific, Israel’s response threatens to unleash a much wider war in the region.”
The joint letter to Senators is one part of a campaign by national organizations, some of whom include the Friends Committee for National Legislation, Peace Action, Win Without War, and Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. The letter puts into words the concerns that military aid, in the form of bombs, missiles, drones, artillery shells, and ammunition – have been flowing into Israel with few to no conditions.
Some of the allegations of abuses include Israel’s use of White Phosphorus as documented by Human Rights Watch (HRW). According to the HRW report, “The use of white phosphorus in Gaza, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, magnifies the risk to civilians and violates the international humanitarian law prohibition on putting civilians at unnecessary risk.”
“Congress should ensure that arms transfers and military aid provided to Israel, or any country, are consistent with U.S. law and policy, international law, and civilian protection responsibilities,” the letter reads. “S.Res.504 offers an opportunity to affirm Congress’s important oversight role, mandating that the Biden administration document and report on any human rights violations committed by the Israeli government.”
Peace House will continue to work diligently to hold US lawmakers and the Biden Administration accountable for their role in arming Israel and taking military action in the region in related operations.
“Peace House supports an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. We have grave concerns that, as US citizens, we are complicit in the bombing of innocent civilians by supplying billions of dollars in weapons and munitions to Netanyahu’s Israel, “ continued Hallett. “We must do everything in our power to end this cycle, and it starts with Sen. Sander’s Res. 504.”
The Resolution comes at a time when the US Senate will be considering authorizing an additional Aid package for Israel, and when the war is escalating into what could become a devastating and long lasting regional war in the Middle East. The letter specifically urges Senators to support Sen. Bernie Sanders’ S J Res 504 invoking Section 502(B)c of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which would require a State Department report on Israel’s human rights violations.
“At the same time our government increases military aid to Israel, people in Gaza apparently must endure an elevating humanitarian crisis with a lack of food, fuel, shelter and medicine,” Hallett continued. “This cycle is not only morally repugnant, it echoes our concerns about the upside down logic that prioritizes military budgets over social services within the US as well. We have increasing numbers of homeless, hungry, and freezing citizens in the US.”
Senator Jeff Merkeley supports the the Senate resolution calling into question how US military aid has been used by Israel – and that it must comply with US and International law. Senator Ron Wyden has not yet committed, but the groups seek to gain his support through letters, phone calls, and growing public support of the initiative.
As a result of the bombing of major infrastructure and displacement of millions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the region faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. This includes the rapid spread of disease, a lack of food, shelter, fuel, and drinking water to more than 2 million people, and alleged targeting of medical facilities and personnel.
Sen. Sanders’ remarks on the Senate floor January 11 are here.
