End the siege of Gaza

End the siege of Gaza

End the siege of Gaza Tell Obama to hold Israel accountable. Regret is not enough. In the dark of night on May 31, 2010, Israel sent armed commandos onto a civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid for Gazans. The attack, which took place in international waters, was a brazenly illegal act meant to enforce Israel's nearly 3-year illegal siege of Gaza - a siege that has left 1.5 million men, women and children living like prisoners on substandard diets; deprived of the simplest things like potato chips, musical instruments, and toys; and completely cut off from the rest of the world. That night, nine volunteers were killed, many more injured. Because Israel confiscated the recording equipment of the human rights activists, we're only getting small bits of information here and there. The flotilla wasn't just about this one delivery of aid. It was about the right of Palestinians to have sea, land and air routes to the rest of the world and for the need to end the blockade. The blockade is illegal. It is a particularly brutal form of collective punishment which has caused untold suffering and achieved none of Israel's stated objectives. It is a moral, political and tactical failure. The response of the U.S. government thus far has been wholly inadequate, with a mild statement "regretting the loss of life," refusal to allow and now, acceptance of Israel's farcical plan to investigate itself. Please join Jewish Voice for Peace in telling President Obama and Congress enough is enough US taxpayer dollars fund Israel's occupation, and together with wall to wall uncritical diplomatic support have sent the message that any Israeli action, no matter how foolhardy, will be backed by the full might of the United States. It's time for that to stop. Doing so will protect Israelis and Palestinians, American citizens, and internationals alike. Click here to demand that President Obama and Congress call for an immediate lifting of the siege of Gaza,an international and impartial investigation into the tragic killing of civilians in a humanitarian mission, and the suspension of military aid to Israel until he can assure the American public that our aid is not used to commit similar abuses.