Democratic Representative Jayapal condemns the genocide and systematic starvation in Gaza and calls for their immediate cessation.

U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (Democrat from Washington) issued a statement warning that the current situation in Gaza will worsen and collapse steadily, causing an escalating and unprecedented famine in the 21st century, unless immediate emergency steps are taken.

It is noted that Representative Jayapal is a member of the "Progressive Squad," alongside Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota), Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), and Ayanna Pressley (Massachusetts).

Jayapal stated, "Every day, month after month, we witness in America, and share, horrific and shocking images from Gaza. The population has been subjected to systematic starvation, civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, and areas classified as 'safe' have been bombed. To bring about the radical change we need in U.S. policy to stop what is happening and ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza immediately, we must confront the bitter truths. I believe it is time to acknowledge that the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza."

The veteran representative explained that the term genocide was codified under the Genocide Convention of 1948 in direct response to the Holocaust – "a horror in which six million Jews and millions of others were systematically and horrifically killed, leading to the destruction of Jewish communities across Europe," noting that the United States ratified the Genocide Convention during the presidency of Ronald Reagan in 1988, aimed at distinguishing it from the actions of other parties, so that actors could intervene to protect lives when there is a risk of genocide occurring.

The convention defines both intent and actions as part of the determination process. In Gaza, since October 7, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed (most of them women and children), including over 870 infants, and nearly 150,000 have been injured. Hundreds have died from malnutrition, as the Israeli government has prevented humanitarian aid from reaching them or limited it to dangerous and restricted distribution centers. Israeli soldiers have shot large numbers of Palestinians even while they were attempting to obtain food from designated sites. Additionally, 90% of Gaza's population has been displaced from their homes and communities, forced to flee repeatedly to often unsafe and unhealthy conditions.

Representative Jayapal added, "We have also witnessed the repeated and indiscriminate destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, universities, hospitals, religious sites, and agricultural land, making it nearly impossible for Palestinians to rebuild themselves as a community, which is a key factor in genocide. Senior Israeli officials have repeatedly made clear the intent behind these systematic actions, referring to the Palestinian people as 'human animals,' and asserting that 'there are no innocents in Gaza,' or calling for the complete displacement of all Palestinian populations, which is essentially ethnic cleansing."

The representative highlighted that, "The United States is the largest arms supplier to Israel, providing the Israeli government with billions of dollars in military aid. We have failed to enforce our domestic laws on these military shipments and ignored international humanitarian laws. This makes us complicit in this genocide. Now, we must do everything in our power to fulfill our legal obligations by refusing to fund war weapons for the Israeli government, and by using all our influence and diplomatic expertise to end this war and achieve lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. Recently, prominent voices, including Israeli experts and prominent American Jews in the Holocaust and genocide fields, have considered what is happening to be genocide. After conducting in-depth field research, many Israeli human rights organizations have similarly concluded. I have been deeply moved by the wisdom of these Jewish experts who described what is happening in Gaza as genocide. This is the kind of wisdom that is painfully forged in the crucible of deep suffering."

The representative stated that she recognizes "the deep pain that the use of the word genocide may carry for many of my Jewish voters, friends, and allies, given the origins of the word and the horrors of the Holocaust. Please know that I will continue to stand fully and completely against anti-Semitism, condemn the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and strongly call for the immediate and unconditional return of all hostages. As our moral and legal obligations dictate, we must have the capacity to express our rejection of the horrors of October 7 and the horrors of genocide that are now unfolding in Gaza and the West Bank."

Jayapal concluded her statement: "I sincerely hope that the more we accept the reality of what is happening, the more likely it is that U.S. policy will change to stop supporting and inciting this farce, and ultimately, that America will play an important role in negotiating a lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians."