This was sent on WhatsApp this morning and I thought I’d share here in case anyone else is also feeling desperate to do something about the genocide taking place in Palestine.
Please note, I am not the original author of the letter. If you are not against the attacks on Palestine and/or are of the opinion that it’s a genocide at all, can I politely request that you share such opinions on one of the other threads that are more open to discussion of the historical and unfolding politics of the situation in Palestine and Israel. This thread is solely for the purpose of sharing support for those who want to do something about it.
The WhatsApp message was as follows:
Not sure how you can help with the humanitarian crisis in Palestine? Contact your local MP to speak out on the genocide in Gaza.
Follow this link to find your MP’s contact details: members.parliament.uk/members/Commons
Copy and paste the message below:
I am deeply appalled by the violence that has unfolded in the regions of Palestine and Israel and have killed thousands of civilians. All parties have a duty to respect and uphold international humanitarian law and ensure that civilians are protected, and that duty is clearly not being met.
The tightening of Israel’s siege of Gaza – cutting off supplies of food, medicine, fuel and aid – represents collective punishment of all 2.2 million people living in Gaza, around half of whom are children. The current order for more than 1 million people to leave northern Gaza is contributing to a humanitarian catastrophe. Hospitals have been ordered to empty and families have been bombed as they react to the threats from the Israeli government and flee to southern Gaza. Food and water are running out.
The death toll is mounting hourly, and the humanitarian crisis is critical – with worse yet to come. I am asking you to urgently write to the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, and urge him to:
1. Call for an immediate ceasefire to prioritise the preservation of human life.
2. Demand that Israel immediately ends its complete siege of Gaza and ensures that humanitarian aid safely reaches people in need in accordance with humanitarian principles. Israel must allow safe and unimpeded entry of fuel, water, food, and other humanitarian necessities into Gaza.
3. Demand that all parties comply with international law and ensure that civilians are protected from harm. All parties must not target civilians or civilian infrastructure and must ensure that civilians have access to basic necessities such as water, food and power.
4. Increase UK aid to Palestine to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs and work with international partners to ensure that governments continue to fund humanitarian organisations and UN agencies responding to the crisis.
I hope you will urgently deliver these messages to the Foreign Secretary, and I would urge you to also raise these issues with the leader of your party and in parliament.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.