End the Siege on Gaza NOW

To:  U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee

On Saturday, December 27, 2008 the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) began a furious terror campaign against the residents of Gaza. Using U.S. supplied F-16 jet fighters, Apache attack helicopters, and other U.S. supplied weapons, the Israeli occupation forces bombarded densely populated civilian centers in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 320 and injuring over 1450, many critically. The casualties include hundreds of women, children and other civilians. This massacre is nothing short of an act of genocide.
In addition to this shameless attack, for nearly three years, Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli siege that has collectively punished a civilian population of over 1.5 million by prohibiting food, fuel, electricity, medicine and medical supplies to enter Gaza. Even after more than 300 air strikes, Israel and Egypt have continued to keep the Rafah border closed, not allowing supplies in.
These actions of Israel have flagrantly ignored international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. Article 33 of the convention specifically prohibits this type of collective punishment by stating that no person "be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed". In addition the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits the disproportionate use of force; however, this assault is not less than disproportionate.
Silence is consent. AMP is calling on all people of fairness, equity and justice who stand against occupation, collective punishment, and disproportionate use of force, to voice their outrage.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The End the Siege on Gaza NOW Petition to U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee was created by American Muslims for Palestine and written by Amira Daoud (amoorad@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.