As someone shocked by the grave human rights violations and the horror of civilian deaths, I am baffled at the lack of action by our elected officials. The violence and suffering endured by Palestinians is too often overlooked or rationalized away with the oversimplified statement that "Israel is a democracy". It is crucial to understand that not all Palestinians are members of Hamas, and that many are innocent civilians caught up in a brutal conflict. This one-dimensional view obscures the fact that millions of Palestinians who are not affiliated with any political factions face severe human rights abuses.

A United Nations report in 2021 highlighted that Palestinian children are routinely mistreated in the Israeli military detention system, and the residence permits system has created a coercive environment that leaves Palestinians no choice but to leave their homes (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs). Additionally, as of 2021, the Gaza Strip witnesses an unemployment rate of around 49%, one of the highest in the world (World Bank).

Therefore, our demand is to ensure that our elected officials step up and acknowledge the suffering of the Palestinian people. We must call for an immediate end to the occupation and the implementation of the right to self-determination for the Palestinians. Their silence is complicity, and it is high time they stop siding with a state that commits such gross human rights violations. Stand with us, and sign the petition to help bring justice and peace to Palestine.