“You do not have to be Arab, Muslim, Palestinian, or, as in my case and the case of our members, Jews, who say no and speak out against an unfolding genocide – you simply need be a human being who is paying attention,” said Audrey Sasson of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, speaking at a 24-hour vigil that began on Wed, Feb 28 in front of city hall in New York where participants read the names of the 30,000 Palestinians killed so far. Similar events were held in other cities.

• March 3: VP Kamala Harris called for a ceasefire now (for 6 weeks) to return Israeli hostages and allow humanitarian into Gaza.

•Over 30,000  Palestinians are dead and more injured in Israel’s attacks on Gaza since October 7. The UN says over a half million people are on the cusp of starvation.

•March 1: 100,000 residents opposed to Biden Administration support of Israel war against Palestinians in Gaza cast ballots for “uncommitted” and picked up two delegates in Michigan Democratic Primary.

•Feb 29: 104 Palestinians were killed and over 760 injured in Gaza City when Israeli forces fired into the crowd of people waiting in line to receive food aid from humanitarian trucks. Israel officials claimed that the injuries and deaths were caused by stampeding of the crowd waiting for food.  Dr Jadallah al-Shafel of Al-Shifa Hospital said, “The majority of victims were treated for gunshot wounds and shrapnel to the head and upper parts of their bodies. They were hit by direct artillery shelling, drones,  missiles and gun fire. All operating rooms are full, and all medical staff have been deployed.” He said the hospital had run out of fuel and medical supplies to operate the hospital. Victims are in critical condition and lying on the floor.

•Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley visited the Egyptian side of the Rafha border crossing in January where he said the Israeli system to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza is broken with trucks carrying humanitarian supplies stalled for up to a week. He is the second senator, after Dick Durbin, to call for a Ceasefire in Gaza (25 senators and 85 representatives have joined the call for Ceasefire).  Congress is debating sending $14.3 billion in military aid to Israel as part of a $95 billion.

•Feb 20: US vetos ceasefire at UN Security Council.  He said the US is complicit in the genocide by its financial backing of military aid to Israel.

• Feb 12: Vermont Senator Bernie Saunders calling conditions in Gaza the worst humanitarian disaster of our century said, “Israel has right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism but it does not have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people.” He said 85% of the population (1.9 million people) have been displaced from their homes (70% of homes have been damaged or destroyed).  They have no electricity, little food or clean water, open sewers, closed destroyed hospitals, lack of medical supplies. The UN reports that Gaza is at risk of widespread famine. Half the population including hundreds of thousands of children face starvation. “What is happening is being funded by our taxpayer dollars.” He called on congress to defeat the bill authorizing $14 billion in no strings military aid to Israel and the prohibition to funding UNRWA the major humanitarian aid provider in Gaza. Previously, he called on the president to support the UN resolution for immediate ceasefire, return of hostages, and full humanitarian access.

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