The arbitrary arrest of scores of members of the democratically elected government of the Palestinians, the destruction of their office buildings and basic infrastructure of the Gaza Strip is a crime against humanity and deserves world-wide condemnation. The aerial attacks on three bridges and electrical power stations left most of Gaza City without electricity. The threat of more attacks by Israel has forced thousands of innocent civilians to flee.
Destruction of the basic infrastructure and collective punishment of a population is in complete violation of the Geneva Convention. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations have criticized Israel's actions as war crimes. Jewish Voice For Peace called for the international community to censure Israel for its wholesale destruction of the civilian infrastructure in Gaza and an immediate release of Palestinian political prisoners.
It is sad that the world has expressed anger over the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit, but remains silent over the hundreds of Palestinian children held in Israel's dungeons, not to mention 10,000 adult prisoners, thousands held without charge and trial, abducted from their homes in the middle of the night by Israeli occupation forces. The United Nations has issued a dire warning that a humanitarian catastrophe will occur unless funding is restored to the Palestinians.
I urge concerned readers to contact your representatives in Washington and demand an immediate halt to our tax dollars funding Israeli war crimes and a restoration of funds to the Palestinians.
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