To the editor:

A month has passed since Hamas launched an attack on Israel in which 1,400 people were killed and 240 taken hostage and in retaliation Israel began its siege of Gaza.

As we write, Palestinians are facing genocide in Gaza and being attacked and run out of their homes in the West Bank and the war gets more horrific by the hour. The hostage situation is no closer to being resolved through the heavy bombing of Gaza.

“How many deaths will it take till they know that too many people have died?” wrote Bob Dylan in “Blowing in the Wind”.

Will the 10,000+ murdered Palestinians assuage the 1,400 murdered Israelis? Our government is complicit in this bloodbath. In fact, many of the weapons raining down on the people of Gaza are stamped with “Made in USA” and paid for by our tax dollars.

Simultaneously we are witnessing a rise in antisemitism and islamophobia in the US and impingements on First Amendment rights. This further complicates an already desperate crisis when diverse voices of compassionate people of conscience are needed more than ever. Any American who is critical of the Israeli government, who uses the word “genocide” in reference to the bombardment of Gaza, or who calls for a cease fire is labeled antisemitic, can be fired (note: Miguel Sanchez by RI Governor McKee) or in the case of Rep. Rashida Tlaib, censored by Congress. These are very sad, shameful and dangerous times for our democracy.

Ultimately the unbearable conditions Palestinians have suffered under for generations have to be addressed or the cycle of violence will continue. The outcome can only end in more death and destruction unless we find a diplomatic solution for the hostages and a path to peace and justice for the sake of all Palestinians and Israelis.

The words of Martin Luther King ring out loud and clear: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can. Hate cannot drive out hate…. Only love can do that.”

East Bay Citizens for Peace urges:

• No more US arms to Israel — In addition to the annual 3.8 billion in U.S. military aid, Congress is considering supplemental military funding of $14.5 billion. Plus, the Biden administration has requested an emergency waiver for military aid to Israel which would reduce Congressional oversight and public transparency.
• Immediate Ceasefire now
• Protection of all civilians under international law
• Humanitarian aid to Gaza
• International intervention and negotiations for the release of all hostages

This is no time to be silent. Contact the White House and your Congressional delegates today!

War is not the answer!

Nancy Hood
East Bay Citizens for Peace