(HARTFORD, CT, 11/16/2023) – On Friday, Nov. 17, the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) plans to hold a press conference in front of Senator Chris Murphy’s office with Rawan and Ibrahim Shahadeh who live in Norwich, Connecticut.
Rawan Shahadeh’s ten uncles and cousins were killed earlier this week by the Israeli military in Gaza during an attack on a maternity hospital. The press conference will be held after the Shahadehs and another Connecticut family with relatives killed by the Israelis meet with Senator Murphy to call for a ceasefire.
WHEN: Friday, November 17, 4 p.m.
WHERE: In front of Senator Chris Murphy’s Office, 120 Huyshope Ave Hartford, Connecticut
CONTACT: CAIR-Connecticut Chair Farhan Memon, 203-517-6526 or [email protected]; Hassan Awwad, Operations Director CAIR-CT, 202-213-6844
LIVESTREAM: https://www.facebook.com/cairct/
News conference participants will call on elected officials, including Senator Chris Murphy, to urgently address the ongoing crisis in Gaza and demand a clear stance against the violence and an immediate call for a humanitarian ceasefire.
BACKGROUND:
On Saturday, November 11, a horrific event unfolded in Gaza, as reported with the headline:
“The Occupation Bombed Mahdi Hospital in Gaza, Killing Two Doctors and Wounding Displaced People.” This attack not only destroyed a vital maternity hospital, founded by the grandfather of Rawan Shahadeh, but also claimed the lives of her uncles, two respected doctors, Dr. Raed Mahdi and Dr. Bassel Mahdi, and other family members who lived in apartments above the hospital. In total, ten family members, along with displaced individuals seeking refuge in the besieged hospital, were killed.
In a statement, CAIR-Connecticut Chair Farhan Memon said:
“The situation in Gaza requires not only international attention but also immediate action to prevent further loss of life and suffering. This tragedy has profoundly affected the Connecticut Muslim community, serving as a stark reminder that behind the statistics are real people with families, dreams, and aspirations. The loss of these ten souls is deeply felt, and their memory endures in the hearts of those who knew and loved them.
“The incident is also a clear violation of international humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions provide explicit protection for hospitals and medical facilities in war zones. Under these conventions, hospitals are recognized as neutral entities, granting them immunity from attacks or military use. The conventions mandate that all parties in a conflict must respect and protect medical facilities, ensuring they are not targeted or used for military operations. This protection extends to the staff, patients, and infrastructure of these facilities. These rules are designed to ensure that even amidst the chaos of war, medical personnel can provide care and treatment to the wounded and sick without fear of being targeted. Violations of these protections are considered serious breaches of the conventions, often amounting to war crimes. The overarching aim of these provisions is to uphold the principles of humanity and the sanctity of life, even during armed conflict.”
Statement from Rawan Shahadeh:
“There is no excuse for the suffering being imposed on the people of Gaza, there is no justification for these senseless deaths. I am calling on Sen. Murphy and my other elected representatives to speak out and call for a humanitarian ceasefire. The number has ticked too high, we cannot in good conscience allow this pain and suffering to continue. In the last post Dr. Bassel made to his Facebook he wrote: ‘No one dies short of (the life allocated to him by God), but some people will die short of dignity, short of humanity, and short of principles.’ Let us not be of those who live and die lacking humanity, lacking dignity, lacking principles. The number needs to stop ticking, I urge you again to call for a ceasefire. Not next month, not next week, but today. Ceasefire now.”
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.
END