A statement from the United Jewish People’s Fraternal Order
Americans are watching in horror as the violence in Israel-Palestine has escalated towards an all-out war.
Since October 7, thousands have been killed following Hamas’ attack and the Israeli government’s response of (find term). On October 17th, the bombing of the Anglican Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City killed hundreds of people, mostly children. Over 5,000 people had been sheltered at the hospital. This was an atrocity, a war crime – no matter who did it. It would never have happened if there was no war-like situation in the first place.
United Jewish Peoples Fraternal Order (UJPFO) unequivocally condemns the targeting of innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians.
Gaza City is facing a “complete siege” as food, water, electricity, fuel, hospitals cannot save lives, the internet, landline phones, and mobile communications with the outside world have been cut off. Gaza’s last functioning seawater desalination plant had been shut down recently after totally running out of fuel. Water and sanitation services have collapsed in the wake of widespread bombing.
UJPFO mourns deeply for the over 1,200 civilian Israelis killed and fears for the lives of Israelis taken hostage. According to all estimates, over 8,500 Palestinians have lost their lives by this senseless slaughter. We wholeheartedly agree with leading Palestinian rights groups that the killings committed by Hamas against Israeli civilians are crimes against humanity. There is no justification in international law for the indiscriminate killing of civilians or the holding of civilian hostages.
Gaza has been plunged into darkness as Netanyahu’s government has turned Gaza neighborhoods, one after another into rubble, leaving tens of thousands homeless. Despite the October 27th United Nations General Assembly overwhelming vote to halt all hostilities in Gaza, the present Israeli rulers declared “No” to a ceasefire.
In effect, the current military drive has become a genocidal war against the people in Gaza. United Jewish Peoples Fraternal Order works for a future where Palestinians and Israelis and all people live side by side in equality and security. We call on all people of conscience to stop the imminent genocide of Palestinians.
United Jewish Peoples Fraternal Order calls for an immediate cessation of military hostilities. As was done several times in the past, we call for the creation of a UN peacekeeping force, under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Security Council, capable of intervention in Gaza.
We call for the reconvening of the 2003 Geneva Accords which, among other things, supports the UNSC Resolutions 242 (yr 1967), 338 (yr 1973), and 2334 (yr 2016) which calls for the cessation of military operations, and peace negotiations between all parties of the conflict. Most importantly, they demand the creation of an independent Palestinian State with pre-1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.
No to Israeli Occupation.
Yes to a sovereign Palestinian State alongside Israel.
Yes to equality and security in a two-state solution.
UJPFO Executive Board
