(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/20/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a deadly Israeli airstrike targeting the Greek Orthodox Church campus in Gaza that killed 17 people.
Hundreds of Palestinian Christians and Muslims were taking shelter in the church and nearby campus buildings. The Israeli military has confirmed that it bombed the church. Former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash said several of his relatives were killed in the Israeli attack.
CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, also called on the Biden administration to demand an immediate ceasefire.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR has called on the Biden administration to oppose Israel’s “self-declared war crimes” after that nation’s government declared a “siege” on the entire civilian population of Gaza and escalated a mass bombing campaign that has killed more than 4,100 Palestinians.
CAIR’s Minnesota chapter announced today An Israeli airstrike reportedly took the lives of 30 members of a family in that state.
[NOTE: More than 60,000 Americans have used CAIR’s action alert to contact their members of Congress and call for an end to the violence and the renewal of U.S.-led efforts to end the occupation. SEE: Urge Your Members of Congress to Address Root Cause of Mideast Violence (cair.com) ]
“No site is sacred to the Israeli military as it carpet-bombs mosques, churches, medical facilities, marketplaces, schools, United Nations compounds, and civilian infrastructure using American supplied and paid-for weapons,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “The only answer to this ongoing slaughter – and the seemingly endless series of war crimes – is an immediate ceasefire, an end to American support for Israeli apartheid and an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.”
Awad also extended condolences to former Rep. Amash.
BACKGROUNDER:
Israel’s far-right defense minister has said that Israel is fighting “human animals” and that the entire Gaza population would be treated accordingly through a “complete siege” on the Gaza Strip that block all supplies of electricity, food and fuel. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres he is “deeply distressed” by that blockade.
According to the Geneva Convention, states must allow the free passage of medical supplies, food, and other relief supplies for the benefit of a civilian population.
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court states that it a war crime to: “Intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including wilfully [sic] impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions.”
Collective punishment is also prohibited by Article 33 of the Geneva Conventions, which states: “No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com