Updates

On Aug. 5, 2022, Israel launched another military assault of Gaza. Over three days, the attacks killed at least 47 people—including 16 children—and injured over 300.

In this interview, Gaza Program Officer Serena Awad and Program Coordinator Ali Abdalbari share their experiences from the escalation—and how communities have worked to recover since then. 

This week marks 55 years since the Six-Day War in 1967, when Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the Syrian Golan.

Every year, the U.S. wastes $3.8 billion dollars sending weapons to Israel and funding its military. With U.S. taxpayer funds, thousands of Palestinians have been killed or displaced. Countless homes, hospitals, schools, and other institutions have been destroyed. 

“We can’t give Gaza only seasonal attention,” AFSC's Jehad Abusalim said in an interview. “The violence continues. Ending the political isolation of Gaza and trying to make Gaza a place we can imagine living in is our mandate.” 

For eleven days in May 2021 the Israeli military bombed Gaza, killing at least 242 Palestinians including 66 children.  A ceasefire has been reached, but as Refaat Alareer outlines in this clip, the cost for Palestinians in Gaza in terms of loss of life, destroyed homes, and suffering has been enormous.

Asmaa discusses the destruction of infrastructure by the Israeli attacks on Gaza. The detrimental effects have impacted civilians' attempt for job opportunities. Take action today. Tell Congress to call for an immediate, complete, and unconditional end to the Gaza blockade.

I celebrate the cease-fire with ambivalence. That’s because, even though it puts a temporary end to the spectacular violence of the past 11 days, it will not end the everyday violence in Gaza and across the occupied territories that has been going on for 73 years.

A Letter from Gaza as Israel's bombs fall.

On March 15, 2021 Rep. Mark Pocan and Rep. Andre Carson led in the sending of a letter to Secretary of State Blinken requesting that the State Department take action to ensure that the Israeli government provide COVID-19 vaccines and facilitate vaccination programs for Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza.

While the Biden administration has indicated it will restore critical humanitarian funding for Palestine, we need political action to bring lasting peace with justice.