Write or call your legislators from home by using this handy tool kit that contains letters and contact information.
On October 17, the UUA Statement on the Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza and Israel was released (here). Grounded in our UU values and resolutions that the General Assembly has adopted through the years, it calls for:
- Ceasefire, de-escalation, and restraint by all sides
- All parties to abide by the laws of war, including the Geneva Conventions and customary international law
- Prioritizing steps to secure the immediate release of hostages and ensure international protection for civilians
In response to the October 7, brutal attack by the militant wing of Hamas on Israeli citizens that resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths, the Israeli government has escalated its violence on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip while attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have also increased. As of this writing on Dec 17, 2023, over 18,000 Gazans, most of whom are civilians, have been killed. About 1.9 million people in Gaza have been displaced, which is over 90% of the territory’s population. The Israeli government initiated a siege in which water, food, electricity, communications, and medicines have been denied the people of Gaza. In the West Bank, 271 Palestinians have been killed since October 7. This humanitarian crisis has led many US faith and secular organizations to demand a ceasefire.
The United States is the primary source of funding, arms, and diplomatic support to Israel. As of today, the U.S. government has refused to demand that Israel initiate a ceasefire. On December 8, the United States vetoed the United Nations Security Council resolution demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. In the Dec 11 Emergency Session, the UN General Assembly voted by a large majority for an immediate ceasefire. The United States and Israel were joined by just eight other countries voting “No” while 153 nations voted their support of the resolution and 23 countries abstained. The call for an immediate ceasefire is world over, increasingly isolating Israel and its primary supporter, the United States, while the attacks on Palestinian territories rage on.
As people of conscience, we must do what we can to end the war and unconditional military support for Israel by contacting our elected leaders.
Please continue to engage with this issue. The Unitarian Universalist Association held a webinar in November and released a resource packet and webinar video called “Why We Cannot Turn Away: Resources for UU Leaders Engaging on Israel & Palestine.” These are meant to help UUs learn about the historical context of Israel and Palestine. The webinar presents some views that are not heard as much in mainstream media. Jews, Israelis, Muslims, Palestinians, Arabs, and UUs are all not monolithic in their points of view – every view expressed does not necessarily represent the point of view of any organization. It is a valuable resource for education among other valuable resources.
You can also register for the weekly Sunday afternoon vigil for Gaza hosted by concerned Unitarian Universalist ministers, religious professionals, lay leaders, the Church of the Larger Fellowship, DRUUMM SF Bay Collective, UU Women’s Federation, UUs for Justice in the Middle East and more.