Mr. President,
I write with a heavy heart, laden with grief at the loss of lives in Gaza, the massive destruction of property, continuous displacement of millions of people, children dying of starvation, the looming famine, and the anguish of Israeli families who await the release of hostages.
You have the power to stop the bleeding.
You have the power to act.
You have stated that Israel’s military response has been ‘over the top,’ ‘it’s got to stop,’ and that Israel has gone too far. I am asking you to follow through on your own words. You have the power to do more than make statements. While negotiations are taking place to secure release of hostages, your immediate attention is essential to stop the killing and suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
I appeal to you to undertake two steps:
1. Withhold military aid of offensive arms to the Israeli government. Our bombs are killing children.
2. Restore funding to UNRWA for humanitarian assistance.
These undertakings put you at risk for re-election. If you cave in to special interest groups and do not take these steps, you may win the election, or still lose; but you will go down in history as the president who aided and abetted the mass killing of women and helpless children, and watched them starve a slow death.
The choice is up to you, Mr. President.
As a practicing Catholic, please look into your heart and for the love of God, stop aiding the Israeli government in killing women and children, and allow UNRWA to feed the starving civilians. This, along with the negotiations you are leading for securing the release of the Israeli hostages, will bear results. I would want you to be remembered as the president who had the courage to do the right thing.
Can you do that, Mr. President?
