| MENNONITE PALESTINE ISRAEL NETWORK |
| MennoPIN Update – October 15, 2023 In This Issue Jonathan Kuttab’s Take Take Action – Say to Joe Biden What You Think Kairos Palestine Statement on the War on Gaza A Prayer from Sabeel Stay Informed on Palestine  Palestinians hurriedly leaving Gaza City — mounting donkeys, riding vehicles and walking — fleeing to the south as the Israeli military tells them to leave their homes or face death. Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images Jonathan Kuttab’s Take Jonathan Kuttab, MennoPIN Steering Committee member and Executive Director of Friends of Sabeel North America, has been constantly assessing the horrifying events in Gaza. Here is his latest report. “Atrocities committed against one’s enemies, up to and including genocide, always begin with dehumanization. “I have always been aware of this, and I know there is a tendency among Palestinians to dehumanize Israelis, the settlers, and Zionists, just as there is a tendency among Israelis and their supporters to dehumanize Palestinians, the PLO, and Hamas, especially with the term “terrorist.” During the Rwanda genocide, the Hutus referred to Tutsis as “cockroaches” before they began slaughtering them. “It is therefore with great alarm that I listened to the frenzy of horrifying statements coming from Israeli commanders as they escalated their attacks on Gaza. In addition to the term “terrorist,” often irresponsibly used here in the US as well, the term being used now is “human animals.” This designation is not limited to Hamas and its fighters, but covers all the people of Gaza, as the Israeli President Hertzog said on Friday: “It is not true civilians were not involved . . . They are collectively responsible for the attacks.” “The Israeli Minister of Defense, Yoram Gallant, used this disgusting term, and the Israeli Army’s Commander in Chief, Herzl Halevy, preparing for the ground assault also declared, “They are human animals, and we will treat them accordingly.” In addition to the massive bombardment, he said that “there will be no water, no electricity, no food, and no medicines.” This openly illegal statement (under the laws of war) went largely unchallenged in the West, precisely because many have bought into Israel’s demonization and dehumanization of Palestinians. Support and sympathy for the civilian casualties of Hamas’ attack, however, was used as a “green light” and legitimization of Israel’s subsequent response.” Continue reading here. Take Action – Say to Joe Biden What You Think Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has been supplying aid and relief in Palestine since the 1950s. In addition, MCC has encouraged advocacy and action in the United States Legislative and Executive branches. They have created a direct way for you to tell President Biden, Vice-President Harris and your congressional representative how you want them to respond. Consider this quick way of express your thoughts and actions you think they should take here. A member of the MennoPIN Steering Committee wrote President Biden and her letter is posted on our MennoPIN website here. Kairos Palestine Statement on the War on Gaza Kairos Palestine is a nonviolent Palestinian Christian movement which advocates for the ending of the Israeli occupation and achieving a just solution to the conflict. They recently released their statement on what is happening now: “The war on Gaza again, but this time it started from Gaza. I has caused great suffering and destruction in Israel. Many see it as an unjust war against Israel. But the question that every human being, and every seeker of peace and justice, must ask is: Why did this war start? “We all say, No, to the War. We all say, Yes, to peace, and to working for a just and final solution to an existing conflict and to the injustice that has been imposed on the Palestinian people for more than 70 years. Israel does not see the Palestinian people as having any right to exist, and the international community is too weak to implement its decisions to find a just and final solution. “We all mourn and console all the victims on both sides of the conflict. A human being is a human being, both Israeli and Palestinian, and every human being is clear in the eyes of God, and the eyes of his family, relatives, and loved ones. “No to war, yes to a just and final peace. “What is the reason for this sudden war that started from Gaza”? Please read the entire statement here. A Prayer from Sabeel On October 7th, a historic and devastating series of events unfolded in Palestinian-Israeli history. Hamas initiated an operation known as “Al-Aqsa Flood,” launching thousands of rockets from Gaza into Israel and breaking through the electronic boarder barrier, causing the loss of hundreds of Israeli lives, and the taking of several Israelis as captives including women and children, into Gaza. In response, Israel declared “Operation Swords of Iron,” involving a brutal and continuous aerial attack on Gaza that claimed hundreds of lives. and various acts of aggression in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of several Palestinians. The true extent of the recent events’ damage remains unknown, marking the beginning of a period of immense suffering.Heavenly Father, as this period of violence and bloodshed unfolds, we pray for Your justice and mercy. We pray for all who are suffering. We lift up all innocent people in particular the people of Gaza who are vulnerable and helpless to the Israeli airstrikes. May we remember that the recent events are connected to the long history of the Nakba and Israeli systematic oppression against the Palestinian people. Lord, only a just and lasting solution will end the cycle of violence. We call on the international community to work towards this end.Lord in Your mercy…hear our prayer Stay Informed on Palestine MennoPIN keeps you informed about Palestine through our monthly update, special alerts, calls to action, important resources and tour possibilities, all from an Anabaptist perspective. But there are additional excellent organizations and web publications that can keep you informed, some on a daily basis. We invite you to explore these groups and visit the web publications as another way to keep current and active for the people of Palestine. Here are some MennoPIN recommends: Organizations Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center (Sabeel) Mennonite Central Committee Palestine (MCC) IsraelChristian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) U.S. Campaign for Palestine Rights (USCPR) Kairos PalestineKairos USAAmericans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU) Christian Zionism Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace Palestine Portal Web Publications Mondeweiss The Electronic Intifada +972 Magazine B’Tselem Palestine InSight |
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