As Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip with air strikes that have killed more than 2,800 Palestinians, a quarter of them children, and driven around half of the 2.3 million Gazans from their homes, a large numbers of Americans especially Jewish Americans came out to condemn Israeli war crimes.
Israel has imposed a total blockade on Gaza, halting food, fuel and medical supplies, which are rapidly running out.
“We cannot and will not say today’s actions by Palestinian militants are unprovoked,” read the statement from IfNotNow, which was founded in 2014 to protest US defense aid to Israel.
“Every day under Israel’s system of apartheid is a provocation. The strangling siege on Gaza is a provocation,” said the statement.
As for civilians murdered in Saturday’s attacks, IfNotNow said, “their blood is on the hands of the Israeli government, the US government which funds and excuses their recklessness, and every international leader who continues to turn a blind eye to decades of Palestinian oppression, endangering both Palestinian and Israelis.”
“The latest Israeli government and some of its policies have been a real source of shock and awe for American Jews, especially Jews who are starting to question if the Israel-Diaspora relationship is built on shared values,” said Hirschhorn, who added that many Jewish students are “really committed to progressive values and activism.”
