One Year Later: War Accomplishes Nothing in the Face of Incalculable Loss

As we mark one year since the Hamas attacks on Israeli citizens, and the ensuing campaign of terror against civilians in Gaza and beyond by Israeli forces, UUSC supports the calls for a ceasefire and the end of U.S. weapons shipments to Israel, and remains in solidarity with all who resist violence, occupation, and genocide.

In response to the mass breaches of human rights—the indiscriminate attacks of Hamas on Israeli civilians; the murder of 50,000 Palestinians, mostly children; Israeli attacks on Gaza that have left 1.9 million people displaced—Palestinian and global activists have come together to support moving resources to Gaza. Last October, the Funders for a Ceasefire Now published an open letter calling for a ceasefire, unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid, an end on Western supplies of weapons to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and adherence to international law. The country of South Africa also brought a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute a genocide.

On September 17, Israel expanded its bloody campaign into southern Lebanon, a significant and alarming new phase in the long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Again, Israel’s military response has resulted in the indiscriminate murder of civilians. In just two weeks, the IDF has killed more than 1,000 Lebanese people.

As international fear grows that the attacks on Lebanon will develop into a situation mirroring that of Gaza, many activists and countries are renewing calls for a ceasefire and an end of weapons sales to Israel. While the UK government recently announced a limited ban on arms exports to Israel, and Germany has halted arms shipments as well, the U.S. government now stands alone as the main supplier of weapons to Israel—even as Israel prevents the delivery of U.S.-backed humanitarian aid to Palestinian communities.

As part of a global movement to end militarization, UUSC is speaking out at this time in an effort to bring attention to the U.S. government’s long-standing role in aiding apartheid and war crimes made possible, in part, by foreign assistance amounting to more than $3 billion a year. We also speak out now in solidarity with the aggressive backlash against human rights defenders and advocates who are facing crackdowns, assassinations, and repression for calling for justice and peace.

UUSC works to advance human rights and the inherent dignity and power of every human being in the face of increased militarism and an unending climate crisis. While focusing on advancing the rights of people migrating or forcibly displaced, we demand international justice and accountability so that those displaced may be where they most want to be: home. To learn more about ways you can join our global solidarity, sign up for our email list.