War Is a Crime Against Humanity:
Stop the Violence in Israel-Palestine
War Resisters International Executive Statement
(October 2023) — As full-scale war again returns to Israel-Palestine, we turn to the WRI founding statement, that “War is a crime against humanity. I am therefore determined not to support any kind of war, and to strive for the removal of all causes of war.”
War is sometimes fought with bombs and bullets. Sometimes it is fought by restricting access to the resources that allow people to meet their basic needs, and for humanity to flourish. As antimilitarists, we can and will always reject and condemn both the immediate, deliberate and organised violence that grabs headlines and shocks the world, and simultaneously recognise that the violence that has occurred in Israel-Palestine since Saturday 7th October is rooted in a decades long, asymmetrical, grinding conflict.
We also want to recognise that, though many of us will have our attention drawn to the shocking and immediate violence, we often fail to act or engage during the times of “normal”, sustained but no less damaging acts of violence and oppression. This is true for Israel-Palestine, but also in Nagorno-Karabakh, Rojava, West Papua, and so many other places.
When violence escalates, we may feel like we need to “pick a side”, and there will be many voices demanding that we do so. However, we also reject such a binary way of looking at the world, that make us think [of] others as enemies who must be oppressed or killed and the difference be eliminated.
No matter how loud these demands become we know that there are, have been, and always will be, people and communities who reject the false choice violence demands.
Instead, we align with those that choose to build security not with guns and bombs, but by nonviolently building trust and cooperation, supporting those who refuse to kill even when under immense pressure to do so, and perhaps even dare to imagine a more just and peaceful world. We want to again commit ourselves to hearing and amplifying these voices.
We, as War Resisters’ International executive committee, as people from different countries and territories, condemn the violence and destruction from all sides, in any way and stand in solidarity with conscientious objectors, and all those who believe in peaceful, nonviolent approaches to resolve conflicts.
The US Must Quit Supporting Israel’s Occupation
Roots Action
(October 9, 2023) — We condemn the attacks by Hamas deliberately targeting Israeli civilians for killing and kidnapping. And we condemn Israel’s aerial bombardment of Gaza, which is again killing large numbers of Palestinian civilians. We grieve for all the lives lost and for all those injured and traumatized.
The root of the current violence is the oppression and abuses suffered daily by Palestinian people as a whole under decades of cruel Israeli occupation and expansionism. Leading human rights groups — from Amnesty International to Human Rights Watch to Israel’s B’Tselem — have concluded that Israel’s occupation policies amount to a form of apartheid.
Until Israel’s military occupation is ended, these cycles of terror and war and trauma will repeat. Click here to email Congress and President Biden.
A Message to Congress and the President:
The horrific cycle of violence in the Middle East will not end until the Israeli occupation ends — and a huge obstacle to ending the occupation has been the US government. Under Democratic and Republican administrations, Washington has steadfastly made excuses for Israel as ever more Palestinian homes and villages have been destroyed or seized by right-wing settlers, as settlements have expanded, as Israeli soldiers have stormed Muslim holy sites, as Palestinian children have been militarily detained.
And the violence from soldiers and extremist settlers toward Palestinians has worsened in the West Bank and East Jerusalem with the rise of the most openly racist government in Israel’s history.
The Jewish Voice for Peace organization traces the current war to US complicity with Israel’s never-ending occupation: “The unchecked military funding, diplomatic cover, and billions of dollars of private money flowing from the US enables and empowers Israel’s apartheid regime. Those who continue calling for ‘ironclad’ US support for the Israeli military are only paving the path to more violence.”
As your constituent I urge you to cease arms shipments to Israel, and to cease protecting the Israeli government from the rule of law.
Click here to send your email.
Background:
• Amnesty International: “Crime of Apartheid: The Government of Israel’s System of Oppression Against Palestinians”
• Human Rights Watch: “A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution”
• B’Tselem: “This Is Apartheid”
• United Nations: “Israel’s 55-year occupation of Palestinian Territory is apartheid – UN human rights expert”
• New York Times:“Israel’s Push to Expand West Bank Settlements, Explained”
For Peace, Justice and Democracy in Palestine/Israel!
Nadine Quomsieh and Yuval Rahamim / Parents Circle – Families Forum
We express our deepest and heartfelt condemnation of the violence in the region. The relentless cycle of conflict has inflicted immeasurable pain and suffering on innocent lives. It is a time of great sorrow, knowing that countless families now bear the burden of emptiness in their hearts and the heavy weight of grief due to the tragic loss of their loved ones.
The toll of violence is not just counted in numbers; it is measured in the shattered dreams, the untapped potential, and the irreplaceable bonds severed by these horrifying actions. The victims, both seen and unseen, deserve our unwavering support and empathy as they grapple with the profound trauma inflicted upon them.
It is an undeniable truth that the time has come to change the situation. This region has endured too much pain, too much bloodshed, and too many tears.
It is a moment for all parties involved to reflect on the senselessness of this continued conflict and to recognize the shared humanity that binds us all.
Let us remember that violence begets violence, and the only way forward is through peaceful dialogue, diplomacy, and a commitment to finding common ground. It is a call to action for leaders, communities, and individuals alike to seek solutions that prioritize reconciliation, justice, and lasting peace.
We must also acknowledge the vital role of international cooperation and humanitarian efforts in alleviating the suffering of those affected by the conflict. The international community must stand together, united in its resolve to support the region’s path towards peace and stability.
While words alone cannot mend the wounds or bring back the lives lost, they can serve as a reminder of our collective responsibility to end this cycle of violence. It is incumbent upon us to work tirelessly towards a future where the people of this region can live without fear, where children can grow up in safety, and where the seeds of hope can flourish.
In closing, let us reaffirm our commitment to peace, empathy, and the belief that a better, more peaceful, future is possible. It is our fervent hope that this statement serves as a testament to our shared determination to bring an end to this ugly occupation, the violence and suffering that have plagued this region for far too long.
Nadine Quomsieh and Yuval Rahamim are co-Directors of Parents Circle – Families Forum.
