Councilmembers,

I am writing as an enraged Philadelphia resident and constituent to condemn, in the strongest terms, Resolution 230706 put forward by Councilmembers Johnson and Driscoll. I have seen first-hand accounts of Palestinians being brutally bombed and massacred by the same state you allegedly stand in solidarity with and I’m writing to loudly and defiantly say: not in my name. 

The Israeli military has repeatedly, publicly admitted its intentions to commit war crimes: Yoav Gallant has referred to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as “human animals,” as he cut Gazans off all access to food, water, electricity, medical aid and shut down all humanitarian corridors. This is the war crime of collective punishment. Israeli soldier Betzal Taljah went on CNN to declare that this is a “war against civilians” which is also a war crime of targeting civilians. The Israeli Occupation forces have used white phosphorus against Palestinians, according to documentation by Palestinians in Gaza. The use of white phosphorus in areas with high density violates international law and is a war crime. In this last week Israel killed twelve journalists. Attacks that target journalists are a war crime. Recently Israel gave 1.1 MILLION people in Gaza a 24-hour notice to evacuate from the North to the South and then BOMBED the evacuation route. The forcible transfer of civilians and disregard for their health and safety is a war crime. On October 17th, at around 1PM EST, Israel bombed the Anglican Hospital located in the middle of Gaza City. targeting doctors, patients, and thousands of already displaced Palestinians that were taking shelter. Initial reports presume that the Israeli airstrike killed hundreds of people.There are no sidelines to stand on, and we will not be silent while our city cosigns actions that amount to nothing short of genocide.

As I write this email, the death toll in Gaza is approximately 3,000—more than a third of those casualties are children. For 16 years, the Israeli government has suffocated Palestinians in Gaza under a draconian air, sea and land military blockade, imprisoning and starving two million people and denying them medical aid. Ten-year-olds who live in Gaza have already been traumatized by seven major bombing campaigns in their short lives. And for seventy-five years, Palestinians have faced violent expulsions and home demolitions, mass killings, military raids on refugee camps, unrelenting siege and daily humiliation. International law and international human rights groups have reached a clear consensus: Israel is an apartheid state committing war crimes against a stateless, Indigenous people. The only path to peace and justice is an end to this oppression.

Our government is funding Israel in its march to genocide, giving the state 3.8 billion dollars annually in military aid.This funding only endangers more lives and fuels more violence. Meanwhile, Philadelphians struggle to afford healthcare, rent, food, and basic necessities. My tax money should NOT be funding genocide. Instead it should be used to feed, house, and care for my neighbors.

Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, does not stand for genocide. This resolution flies in the face of our city’s, and my personal, values. You, our elected officials, should be calling for a ceasefire and an end to U.S. funding of the Israeli military. In the face of an ongoing genocide, the last thing city council members should be doing is declaring support for a government that is openly stating its intentions to commit war crimes.

As your constituent, I urge you: stand on the right side of history. Stand with the Palestinian people in their fight for liberation and justice. Do not pass this resolution. 

Free Palestine,