{"id":31844,"date":"2024-02-18T13:38:14","date_gmt":"2024-02-18T21:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=31844"},"modified":"2024-02-18T13:38:16","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T21:38:16","slug":"3600-us-scholars-outraged-over-gaza-want-action-not-expletives-from-biden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2024\/02\/18\/3600-us-scholars-outraged-over-gaza-want-action-not-expletives-from-biden\/","title":{"rendered":"3,600+ US Scholars Outraged Over Gaza Want ‘Action, Not Expletives’ From Biden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"U.S.<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

U.S. President Joe Biden answers questions about Israel in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on February 8, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0(Photo: Mandel Ngan\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Mr. President, with all due respect, there is simply no explanation that PM Netanyahu\u2014or you\u2014could offer to justify this ongoing massacre and weaponization of humanitarian aid against the people of Gaza.”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

JESSICA CORBETT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feb 14, 2024 (CommonDreams.org)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 3,600<\/a> university and college faculty, instructors, fellows, and research associates from across the United States have signed on to a Wednesday letter<\/a> urging U.S. President Joe Biden to prevent genocide in Israel’s war on the Gaza<\/a> Strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After detailing how the Israeli assault has devastated<\/a> Gaza, the scholars wrote that “we therefore urge your administration to apply human rights, international humanitarian law, and U.S. pressure consistently, not only when it comes to the attacks committed by Hamas or other militants on October 7, 2023<\/a>, which killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 36 children.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Upholding this basic moral and legal principle demands that American officials also condemn the Israeli military’s siege and bombardment of Gaza that has now<\/a> killed over 27,000 Palestinians, including at least<\/a> 10,000 children,” the scholars asserted. “Yet, Mr. President, you have not only failed to condemn the ongoing massacre in Gaza. You have enabled it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Mr. President, you have not only failed to condemn the ongoing massacre in Gaza. You have enabled it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military aid, and in the wake of Hamas’ October attack Biden sought a $14.3 billion package, which was passed<\/a> by the Senate earlier this week but still needs House approval. The scholars’ letter was also sent to senators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Given the unprecedented<\/a> scale, duration, and nature of Israel’s ongoing assault and multiple statements<\/a> by Israeli officials conveying an intent to destroy all of Gaza<\/a> under the pretext of destroying Hamas, there are substantial risks that genocide<\/a> is unfolding in Gaza right now,” the letter states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has found this charge plausible in its interim ruling on January 26, 2024 in South Africa v. Israel<\/em><\/a>, and, more recently, a United States federal district judge has declared<\/a> that ‘the current treatment of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military may plausibly constitute a genocide in violation of international law,'” the letter continues. “These developments have only strengthened our resolve to speak out against atrocities taking place with U.S. support in real time.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scholars are calling on Biden to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n