Stop Gaza Becoming Another West Bank

Dear [Elected Official Name],

I am writing to you with profound concern to draw your attention to the escalating violence and persecution of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including the murder of more than 500 Palestinians by illegal settlers and Israeli forces since October 7.

The illegal occupation of the West Bank operates under a system of racial segregation and apartheid, enforced and maintained by the Israeli regime. Illegal settlers are enabled and protected by the occupying government and its military to commit grave crimes against Palestinians; from beatings, executions, house demolitions and displacement. This racially incited violence has taken the lives of thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank, including the murder of over 200 in 2023 before October 7 alone.

Violence in the West Bank has only escalated, resulting in the murder of over 500 Palestinians. Illegal Israeli settlers have also burned large areas of Palestinian-owned olive trees and agricultural crops in the village of Al-Mughayyir, with protection from Israeli forces who open-fired on civilians as they tried to extinguish the flames. These acts of aggression, carried out with the protection of the Israeli army, constitute clear violations of international law and must be unequivocally condemned.

It is important to recognise that the establishment and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank constitute flagrant violations of international law, constituting war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. These settlements not only perpetuate systemic discrimination and violence against Palestinians but also undermine the prospects for a just and lasting peace in the region. In 2023, 4,000 Palestinians were displaced in the West Bank, either from home demolitions, destroyed structures from Israeli forces operations or Palestinian movement access restrictions.

Israeli forces have killed over 200 Palestinians in raids alone, including three youths in a recent raid in Tulkarm. These raids have used Palestinian children as human shields, some as young as 12 years old, forced to enter buildings first and using their shoulders to rest weapons when firing them.

The West’s sanctions against select settlers in the West Bank prove ineffective and fail to acknowledge the Israeli government’s role in enabling and facilitating the continued violence and illegal occupation. 

Netanyahu’s vision for the future of Gaza, as outlined in the Jerusalem Post on May 3rd, is deeply troubling. By seeking to maintain economic and military control over Gaza, Israel positions Gaza to become another West Bank, further imposing systems of apartheid, denying basic human rights of Palestinians and enabling unspeakable violence against them. Occupation is illegal and our government should work to ensure its cessation. 

I urge you to condemn the ongoing violence and human rights abuses against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and demand an immediate end to the illegal occupation. Additionally, I would call for your support of international efforts to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law, including the prosecution of individuals responsible for war crimes. 

While we must ensure an end to the genocide in Gaza, the continued occupation of all Palestinian territories must end to commit to any lasting peace. We cannot stand idly by while innocent civilians suffer at the hands of the oppressive Israeli regime. I urge you to stand on the right side of history and work towards a future where peace, justice, and equality prevail for all inhabitants of the region.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I look forward to your prompt and decisive action in support of the Palestinian people’s fundamental rights and dignity.

Your constituent,
[Full Name]
[Full Address]