In response to the introduction of H.Res 876 to recognize the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza in the House of Representatives, Elizabeth Rghebi the MENA Advocacy Director of Amnesty International USA, made the following statement:
“Amnesty International welcomes the introduction of this important resolution by Rep. Tlaib and 20 members of Congress to recognize Israel’s actions against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip for what they are – genocide. We call on all members to urgently co-sponsor and pass this resolution.
“Palestinian human rights organizations led the way in raising the alarm about Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and a year ago, Amnesty published its landmark report concluding that Israel is committing genocide. Global recognition of this fact has only continued to grow, including by Israeli human rights groups, genocide scholars, and the UN Commission of Inquiry.
“The Genocide Convention, ratified by the U.S., imposes a duty on states to prevent and punish the crime of genocide. This requires the immediate suspension of the sale and transfer of all weapons to Israel, the use of all economic, political and diplomatic tools to exert pressure on Israel to stop the genocide, and an end to its policies that enable impunity by supporting and cooperating with international criminal investigations and carrying out investigations and prosecutions of genocide within its jurisdiction.
“Right now, despite the so-called ceasefire agreement, Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues, including the continued targeting and killing of Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces, the denial of humanitarian aid, and conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians. All acts of genocide by Israel must cease. Congress must take urgent action to ensure the U.S. meets its obligations under the Genocide Convention by passing this resolution and taking the necessary steps to prevent and punish Israel’s genocide.”
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