VETERANS CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE

Common Defense and Breaking the Silence, US and Israeli military veterans, call upon the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress and Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Knesset to halt the nine-month long Israeli military operation in Gaza, which has resulted in over 38,000 Palestinian deaths, the vast majority of whom were civilians. The urgency of ending this war cannot be understated, following countless incidents of civilian deaths, including those of foreign nationals, aid workers and Israel’s own hostages. The ongoing use of U.S. weapons in attacks involving civilians, journalists, and aid workers demonstrates a pattern of violence which cannot be attributed to accidents or misfortune.

Given the U.S.’s significant ties to Israel, the Biden administration and Congress must act swiftly to end the violence and address the humanitarian crisis it has fostered. The toll of civilian casualties from U.S.-supplied arms is unacceptable.

Nothing can excuse the brutality of Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023, resulting in the murder of close to 1,200 people and kidnapping of 250 more. Unfortunately, Israel’s response has been to wage a war that has not only cost the lives of so many thousands of Palestinians, but has also put the lives of Israel’s own hostages in jeopardy. Furthermore, the war has made entire parts of the Gaza Strip unlivable. And besides the war itself, one of the great dangers of the current situation is that it will entrench Israel’s already long-standing siege and expand it into a long-term ‘forever war’, a direct and indefinite military occupation of the Gaza Strip and its millions of residents, which will be disastrous for Palestinians, Israelis, and the Israeli soldiers sent to occupy them. The appalling situation in the West Bank today bears testament to the dangers of such a possibility.

Therefore, Common Defense and Breaking the Silence urge immediate action:

1. President Biden must use all diplomatic means to pressure both Israel and Hamas to enact the immediate implementation of the recently laid out ceasefire proposal, including the permanent cessation of all hostilities and the safe return of all hostages being held in Gaza.

2. Congress should tie any future military aid to Israel to a clear demonstration of Israel’s commitment to and respect for international law and human rights of Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank, and restore US support for UNRWA.

3. Ensure safe access to Gaza for humanitarian and media personnel, as well as the UN.

4. The U.S. must demand that Israel cease its practice of indefinitely holding Palestinian prisoners without a free and fair trial – including those in ‘administrative detention’, a practice which must be abolished completely.

5. The administration and Congress should promote a diplomatic approach to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and prevent broader conflict.

Signed by more than 5,000 members

Common Defense Civic Engagement is a grassroots, veteran-led organization founded in 2016 to empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence. Breaking the Silence is an organization of Israeli military veterans who have taken it upon themselves to expose the public to the reality of everyday life in the Occupied Territories.